Home » Repairs at Jacob’s Creek Bridge and Recycling Issues in Hopewell Township

Repairs at Jacob’s Creek Bridge and Recycling Issues in Hopewell Township

by Harry Becker

The Hopewell Township Committee heard presentations, at their mid-July meeting, on upcoming construction on the Jacob’s Creek Bridge and recycling.

The first presentation, conducted by the Mercer County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, detailed the upcoming repairs on the Jacob’s Creek Bridge, located on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road and Bear Tavern Road.

The project, according to Assistant County Engineer Basit “Sunny” Muzaffar, could be completed in 93 days, with a start date of August 19 scheduled and an ideal completion date of November 20.

“If we can do this in 93 days, I think that would be pretty impressive,” Muzaffar said.

According to Muzaffar, traffic would be stopped at the intersection of Bear Tavern Road and County Route 546, with a single lane leading up to the bridge for Bear Tavern Road residents. Other traffic will be detoured down Scotch Road.

While Muzaffar and County Engineer George Fallat, noted that warning signs would be posted as early as two weeks in advance, the Committee expressed some concerns about traffic, namely with construction ongoing as school starts.

Community Development Director Mark Katrinyiak assured the Committee that they would have “regular communication” with the County and monitor conditions, with alternative detours for impacted intersections under consideration.

The second presentation, led by Dan Napoleon, Director of Environmental Programs at the Mercer County Improvement Authority, focused on recycling awareness and the Department’s upcoming “90 Day Campaign.”

The campaign, according to Napoleon, consists of distributing an information sheet, direct mailed to residents, of what can and cannot be recycled as well as the current state of recycling.

One of Napoleon’s main concerns was bringing awareness to the notion of possible “contaminants” in recycling pickups that could invalidate an entire load from being processed.

Napoleon warned of two common contaminants: plastic bags used to hold recycling and pizza boxes.

“A lot of residents think they’re doing the right thing,” Napoleon said of residents using plastic bags. “What happens is, when it goes to the processing plant, it’s not going to be touched. It could be 100% clean recycling inside but it won’t be touched.”

Residents with possible contaminants in their recycling will not have their recycling picked up and be notified with a red tag on their bins noting what unacceptable materials they have.

Napoleon additionally referenced helpful recycling apps such as Recycle Coach to educate residents on how to properly recycle.

“From a Mercer County standpoint, we have a responsibility to know what we’re collecting is recycling,” Napoleon said.

The Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for August 5. Please note that a special meeting is scheduled for July 29. (updated at 2:40pm on 7/18/19)

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