Construction work is ongoing where U.S. Route 206 crosses the CSX Railroad in Montgomery Township, N..J, now that a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) project is under way.

The $12 million job is funded by the state and has an anticipated completion date of December 2011.

Ritacco Construction Inc., based in Belleville, N.J., is general contractor for the project. The company was awarded the contract on June 21, 2010, and is working in conjunction with NJDOT, the owners of the project, and project designers Stantec Consulting Services Inc., of Rochelle Park, N.J., and Transystems of Paramus, N.J.

“We are in charge of all aspects of constructing the project in accordance to the design and the state specifications. There is a project management team in place and all of the laborers, carpenters and iron workers are union workers that are on Ritacco’s payroll until their work is completed,” said a Ritacco spokesperson.

“The office/paperwork responsibilities for this project are taken care of by their respective departments in the office: purchasing, estimating, project management, accounts payable. We are also overseeing multiple subcontractors, ranging from the electrical to the paving.”

The project will improve Route 206’s curvature north of the bridge. The span is in a deteriorated condition and Route 206 will be realigned to remove a dangerous intersection with Trent Road, the site of numerous accidents over the years. A new bridge will be constructed over the railroad. No problems have arisen and the job is currently on schedule.

“At the moment construction on the footings and abutment walls of the bridge is being performed. The site has been cleared and soil excavated for the footings has been used for the sub-base of the new road. In addition, the footings/abutment walls are 50 percent complete,” said the spokesperson.

Equipment working on site includes Caterpillar 325 and 345 excavators and a Grove 35- (31.7 t) ton crane as well as John Deere 200 and 270 excavators plus a 410 rubber-tired backhoe and 450 dozer from the same manufacturer. Most of this equipment was supplied by local vendors.

According to the company, this is the type of project where it is particularly competitive, having gained extensive experience through the years with pouring concrete and on similar road work projects.

“The company only bids on jobs that fit our goals and for which we will be competitive. This project fits that criteria, due to our experience with this kind of work,” the spokesperson said.

Founded by Tony Ritacco in 1987, the company specializes in street, highway and bridge construction. CEG

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