SOMERSET COUNTY IGNORES LOCAL REQUESTS TO REMOVE FLOOD DAMAGED BRIDGE: DELAYS REPAIRS UNTIL FIVE YEARS AFTER FLOYD

On the fourth anniversary of the Hurricane Floyd floods and as Hurricane Isabel bears down on New Jersey, Somerset County Freeholder candidate Nathan Rudy accused the County of four years of neglect for some victims of the 1999 disaster. Though North Plainfield has repeatedly requested the removal of Somerset Countys flood-damaged and dangerous Geraud Avenue Bridge, the County has not taken any action since it became a hazard.

North Plainfield, NJ (PRWEB) September 20, 2003 --On the fourth anniversary of the Hurricane Floyd floods and as Hurricane Isabel bears down on New Jersey, Somerset County Freeholder candidate Nathan Rudy accused the County of four years of neglect for some victims of the 1999 disaster. Though North Plainfield has repeatedly requested the removal of Somerset Countys flood-damaged and dangerous Geraud Avenue Bridge, the County has not taken any action since it became a hazard.

Somerset County has left the residents of Geraud Avenue to live next to a dangerous eyesore of a bridge for four years," said Councilman Rudy. And now, instead of removing the bridge as requested by the residents and the town, the Freeholders intend to spend an extra $450,000 in property tax dollars replacing it."

Four years ago today Central Jersey was hit by Hurricane Floyd, resulting in flood damage throughout Somerset County, devastating downtowns and residential neighborhoods in Bound Brook, Manville and other communities.

North Plainfield was hit hard by Floyd as well. Flood waters coming off the Watchung Mountains and racing down Route 22 reached more than five feet high at the corner of Somerset Street and Greenbrook Road. The high school track was washed out. Homes lost their foundations and many residents lost cars.

On Geraud Avenue, along the flood-prone Green Brook, the flood resulted in damage to homes, yards, personal property and the structural destruction of the bridge leading into Plainfield. As a result of the damage to the bridge, Somerset County engineers placed concrete pylons to block it off but have made no effort to clean or maintain it.
Four years is a long time to live next to an attractive nuisance like the dilapidated Geraud Avenue Bridge without action from the County," said Rudy. Residents have reported late-night parties, broken glass, drug deals and prostitution on the bridge and nothing is being done to clean it up or tear it down."

According to the Department of Transportations FY 2004-2008 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program on the Internet, Somerset County proposed to replace the existing structure with a new bridge" at a cost of $800,000 in 2005. Not only is this against the wishes of the municipality and residents, but it is a five year delay from when flooding made the bridge inoperable and a hazard to the community.
On May 14, 2002 the Plainfield City Council and North Plainfield Borough Council agreed that the best solution would be the removal of the bridge, and North Plainfield passed a resolution at the Countys request on June 24, 2002 calling for the bridges removal. The estimated cost to remove the bridge and create a cul de sac for the residents was quoted at about $350,000.

According to letters from the Somerset County Engineers office, the County believed that North Plainfield and Plainfield had agreed to the removal of the existing bridge and the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at the same location" which the municipalities would own and maintain, placing an additional tax burden on North Plainfields tax payers.

In letters to the County Engineers office, both the North Plainfield Borough Clerk (July 31, 2002) and Council President Daniel Glicklich (December 13, 2002) stated that North Plainfield had never agreed to such a pedestrian bridge.

To my knowledge, we never heard back from the County about their plans for the bridge," said Rudy. The only reason we know they are planning to waste tax-payers dollars on this undesirable plan is through our own research at the DOT."

In two terms on the North Plainfield Borough Council, Nathan led the charge to re-invigorate the Environmental Commission and create the Downtown Revitalization Project, and was recently elected to the North Plainfield Business Association Board of Directors. Nathan is also a dedicated volunteer, working with the Optimist Club, United Way, Friends of Vermeule and as the chair of the North Plainfield Street Fair for three years. He is committed to promoting redevelopment in densely populated communities, preserving open space and reducing congestion throughout Somerset County. http://www.rudyforfreeholder.org

As Franklin's Mayor, Kimberly worked closely with all parts of the community, finding innovative ways to fund programs to keep property taxes down. Kimberly is an advocate for better schools and won numerous awards from community groups for her dedication to young people. Under Kimberly's leadership, Franklin Township opened its new senior/community center used by the golden generation during the day and serving children during the evening. http://www.francoisforfreeholder.org
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