A portion of a bridge built in 1792 collapsed and forced the closure of Route 206 in Princeton overnight. It was reopened Tuesday. Watch video
PRINCETON - A portion of the state's oldest bridge on Route 206 over Stony Brook was re-opened Tuesday after emergency crews worked overnight to repair a portion of the span that collapsed, sending centuries old stone into the water below, transportation officials said.
A portion of the stone railing on the historic bridge, near Quaker Bridge Road in Princeton, collapsed on the southbound side, prompting the state Department of Transportation to close the bridge overnight for emergency repairs.
A concrete divider was installed on shoulder of the south lane, and both lanes of the bridge were open for rush-hour traffic Tuesday morning. A concrete barrier was planned for the northbound lane sometime Tuesday, officials.
But transportation officials were still evaluating whether to ban trucks from the span, said Steve Schapiro, DOT spokesman.
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Schapiro said DOT engineers are designing a repair, but the historic designation of the bridge will likely slow progress on a solution.
"The historic nature of the bridge requires the work must be done using similar construction methods," Schapiro said.
The bridge was first built in 1792, the same year the U.S. Mint and the U.S. Post Office were established and Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state.
The span was widened in 1916, but has not had major repair since then, Schapiro said.
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.