Dam bridge project raises host of concerns Parking, business, livelihoods threatened BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer Allentown residents have expensive taste when it comes to their local commute. JEFF GRANIT staff The shops at the old mill in downtown Allentown will likely have to close for the entirety of the dam bridge renovation project, which is expected to take 18-22 months. Most of those who spoke at the March 18 public hearing about the reconstruction of the Monmouth County U-12 bridge over Doctor's Creek in downtown Allentown said they would prefer a temporary bridge over a detour during the renovation project. Choosing the alternative temporary bridge plan over the initial eight-mile detour plan would add $1.6million in costs to the project, which was estimated to cost $4.9 million in October 2007. Allentown resident Elizabeth Martin said she would prefer the temporary bridge to the detour. Bill Wentzien, the emergency management coordinator for Upper Freehold, and Ruth Bertagni, the captain of theAllentown First Aid Squad, said that the temporary bridge is the preferred option for emergency services. However, not everyone favored the creation of a temporary bridge. Jennifer Elgrim, of Allentown, said whoever came up with the idea for a temporary bridge did not spend much time observing traffic on the current bridge. She said the 25 mph bridge doesn't have much traffic beyond rush hour. "A 15 mph bridge is ludicrous," she said. Elgrim also said that her husband is a firefighter. According to her, local firefighters have discussed leaving a fire truck on the other side of the bridge for emergency purposes during the renovation. Elgrimalso believes that a temporary bridge could create parking problems for businesses in the borough that will already be detrimentally affected by the renovation project. Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore said the county would set parking restrictions for contractors, who would not use Main Street. Talba Warner and her husband, Keith, andAnthony Schamper, who operate the Black Forest Restaurant in the mill along the pond, said their restaurant and other shops in the mill have to close during the reconstruction project. The project is estimated to take between 18-22 months. Talba Warner said that the restaurant, and the Off the Wall boutique are anchors of the Allentown business district. She said closing the mill will put a strain on other downtown businesses. Ettore said that his office does not feel comfortable allowing the mill to remain open while the repair work is being done. "The [project] designer could not ensure the safety of the occupants of the building," he said. Ettore said keeping the mill open could create a host of liability conditions so tenantsmust vacate once the county starts installing pilings for the temporary bridge in September or October. Allentown Mayor Stuart Fierstein asked if the county could put underpinnings at the mill so the businesses could remain open. Ettore said the county engineer has no obligation to bring the building up to code. Ettore said the mill could remain open during nonconstruction hours if the borough agreed not to hold the county liable for any harm. Former Upper Freehold mayor William Miscoski said the businesses could not be relocated anywhere similar to the mill. He asked that they be compensated for the amount filed on their 2007 tax returns. "Give them what they've made," he said. "They've just been told they're done for the next two years." Ettore said the county conducted a fair market value appraisal and that the mill owner would be compensated. He also said the county would look into relocating and compensating some tenants. Martin asked if the county would keep the 10-ton weight limit on the bridge after repairs are finished. The weight limit had been reduced to 10 tons in 2001 after a hole in the bridge had been repaired. Ettore said the new bridge would not have a 10-ton restriction. He said the county would post signs in Allentown for alternate truck routes such as the easterly bypass. "Physically restricting trucks is not an option," he said. Ettore said that a temporary bridge would be close to the level of the current bridge. He added that the lake would remain at its current elevation during the construction period.