TRENTON, NJ — Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Priya Jain announce Agate Construction Company Inc. and the A. Servidone Inc./B. Anthony Construction Corp. joint venture have been awarded a $47.7 million contract for the department’s first design-build project, the Route 50 Bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek replacement project, located in Upper Township, Cape May County.
“When I took office, I made clear that we were going to do things differently and deliver for the people of New Jersey," Sherrill said. "That means taking more efficient, innovative approaches to modernizing our aging infrastructure. The Route 50 Bridge project reflects that, by replacing this critical connection to Cape May County and key coastal evacuation route through New Jersey’s first-ever design-build approach. By combining design and construction into one streamlined process, we’re cutting delays, lowering costs, and delivering this long-overdue upgrade faster for New Jerseyans.”
"The scale and urgency of New Jersey's infrastructure needs require us at the NJDOT to think differently, and with Governor Sherrill's support, we are advancing the department's first-ever design-build project to improve coordination, control costs, and ultimately save time and money," Jain said. “Design-build will be another tool for the DOT to build infrastructure that is safer, more resilient, and better prepared for the future. All without compromising quality or accountability."
Traditionally, construction projects have separate contracts for design and construction. The design-build method streamlines the process by incorporating both design and construction into a single contract. It fosters opportunities for collaboration and innovation to optimize designs, reduce risk, and find more cost-effective solutions. This process means fewer changes once construction begins and quicker project delivery, since design and construction phases can overlap.
The 65-year-old Route 50 Bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek is officially designated as a coastal evacuation route for shore communities and plays a vital role in moving visitors to and from coastal Cape May County, particularly in the summer and during the fall “shoulder season.”
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This collaborative project will deliver a cost‑effective replacement of the bridge, which is in poor condition. It includes a future‑use sidewalk and 10-foot shoulders. Work will be done in a way to minimize traffic and community impacts while providing roadway, environmental, and drainage improvements. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and be completed by the end of 2028.
The department is advancing two other design-build projects. The second project is the Route 9W Bridge over I-95 and Routes 1, 9, 46, and 4 (Fletcher Avenue) in Fort Lee, Bergen County, and the third project is the I-295, Sloan Avenue (CR 649) to CR 583 (Princeton Pike) in Lawrence and Hamilton, Mercer County.
