The project to replace the aging 124-year-old bridge spanning the Rockaway River on Route 15 South in Jefferson Township, New Jersey, was expected to advance in phases to allow at least one lane of traffic to be maintained throughout the construction, with full capacity during rush hours. Construction began in August 2022, but on June 4, 2024, the structure was closed to all traffic by NJDOT after inspectors observed movement on the existing bridge abutments. The route is an extremely busy artery used to access I-80, with an average daily traffic count in excess of 50,000 vehicles – a large proportion of which is truck traffic. The unexpected closure led to a substantial backup of traffic on surrounding roads and excessive delays for motorists.

Within days, NJDOT announced plans to install a two-lane temporary bridge over the damaged span, and a modular steel structure from Acrow was selected to reopen the critical route and restore traffic flow. With delivery and construction on an accelerated schedule, it was estimated the project would take six weeks.

Acrow’s bridge, rented to project contractor Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., was 150 feet (45.72m) long and 24 feet (7.35m) wide. The deck was asphalt overlay, and the structure was designed for two lanes of HL-93 loading. Temporary foundations were installed, and the modular bridge was assembled in place. Complicating the installation, overhead power lines at the site required close coordination between the contractor and the local power company to de-energize the lines ahead of the installation. The temporary bridge was opened to traffic on July 14, one week ahead of schedule. It was in service through mid-November, when traffic was shifted to the newly constructed portion of the bridge and the detour modular structure was subsequently removed.