By Dan Moffett
An engineering misstep will force Manalapan to keep weight restrictions on its Audubon Causeway bridge for a couple of months longer than expected while workers replace the aging span.
Commissioner Peter Isaac said when engineers originally drew up the project, they failed to take into account moving Florida Power & Light poles during the bridge demolition. Dealing with the power poles means that it could take until April to remove weight limits and allowing heavy trucks and service vehicles to use the bridge.
“It’s the only substantive difference” in the construction plan so far, Isaac said. Drawdy Construction of Lake Worth, the lead contractor, still believes the new span will be completed by July.
“I guess we’re on schedule with the revised schedule,” Isaac said.
He says residents shouldn’t be misled by a lack of workers and activity at the construction site itself. During the early weeks of the project, the contractor has been doing fabrication work offsite on structural members, getting them ready for installation and assembly as construction picks up steam in January.
The new bridge will be 1 foot higher and wider than the current structure, with a functional life expectancy of about 50 years. The town still hopes to hold construction costs to about $800,000.
“Contrary to rumor,” Isaac said, “there has been progress on the bridge.”
In other business: All three incumbent town commissioners who were up for re-election — Clark Appleby, Ronald Barsanti and Simone Bonutti — filed for another term and were unchallenged. So Manalapan voters won’t have any local choices to make at the polls on March 15.
“I’m delighted our team remains intact,” said Mayor David Cheifetz. “We don’t have an election. That’s great.”
The Town Commission swore in a new but familiar member and said goodbye to a departing one during the Dec. 15 meeting.
Former Mayor Basil Diamond rejoined the commission, filling the Manalapan Point seat vacated by Tom Thornton, who has moved out of town.
Diamond served as mayor from 2011 to 2013 after holding a commission seat for six years.
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