Save the Victory Trail & Jacobs Creek Bridge

Historic Bridge Alternatives Analysis

Summary of Key Points

�� This report centers around the importance of accommodating the expansion

plans of Janssen Pharmaceutica and their anticipated 3,900 employees that will in due course

result in increased traffic flow as high as 13,000 vehicles per day on Bear Tavern Road.

�� Now that the report is available it is apparent that it is fatally incomplete. The Hopewell

Township Committee and the Hopewell Township Historic Preservation Commission were

pressed into making a decision without seeing this report. Restoration options have not been

fully explored (especially considering the historic Victory Trail) and that the concerns of the

affected public have not been considered before decisions were made.

�� Most importantly, nowhere in the report can you find any mention of the nearby elementary

school and the safety of the children. Instead it focuses on Janssen Pharmaceutica being

located in close proximity to the bridge but fails to point out that Bear Tavern Elementary

School is also within close proximity of the bridge.

�� The report is fatally incomplete in that it specifically does not include the historical

significance of the site. On page 10 it observes that there are no other historical aspects

nearby. Clearly, this is mistaken and with the full background of the site known the conclusions

and imperatives of the report could be quite different.

�� We now know that the action taken by the Hopewell Township Committee and the Hopewell

Township Historic Preservation Commission back in February and March was taken without

the benefit of this study that should have been readily available to the members, without

the council members considering their own guiding Master Plan, without the advice of

restoration experts, and without the full input of the public. . In fact, the report was not

finalized and submitted until 4/20/09 which was well after the Hopewell Council endorsed the

current plan.

�� The taxpayers put out over $90,000 for this report and it was withheld from them. Not only was

it withheld but it was not open to questions, challenges or discussion. The authors of a report

of this importance and cost should be made available to several public meetings to discuss,

explain and defend their findings and recommendations.

�� This disclosure proves that the process was flawed from the start because the freeholders, the

Hopewell council as well as the public were being pushed into decisions without the benefit of

the basic study. A fresh new look at the whole picture is required.

�� We do not see any consultation with other historic bridge restoration experts nor any examples

of successful restorations in similar circumstances such as Califon. This, like the above, tends

to indicate that the report is incomplete as the restoration techniques and latitude are not fully

fleshed out in any case, particularly in view of the high historical value of the entire site.

�� The option chosen by the county unquestionably will massively disturb the Victory Trail view

shed. As this was not considered it is doubtful that this project will receive federal approval in

its current form.

�� Highlighted is the soon to take place expansion of Janssen from 1,600 employees to 3,888

employees. This results in a projected average daily traffic (ADT) volume of over 13,000

vehicles per day. This is a staggering, frightening number of vehicles traveling through what is

supposed to be a rural neighborhood past an elementary school.

�� Indeed, the residents have not been provided with a visual conception of the chosen option

which includes a 196 foot long and unsightly retaining wall that cuts directly through the Victory

Trail.

�� Since the report ignored the historic significance of the site, Section 106 of the National

Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) has not been met. Section 106 requires Federal

agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties, and afford

the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment.

�� Clearly Alternative 2 is the option preferred by the residents. Rehabbing the current bridge will

not only preserve the historic Victory Trail, it will protect the neighborhood and nearby

elementary school from the massive trucks and increased traffic volume.

�� It is frightening to think that Alternative 7A was even a consideration. This option would require

a "right-of-way" through several properties totally destroying their property value. This explains

why one of the property owners was so upset at the township committee meeting last Monday

evening and resulted in the deputy mayor telling her she was "pathetic and ridiculous". She

was obviously concerned not knowing what would happen to her home.

�� This Historic Bridge Alternatives Analysis is "fatally incomplete" since they never considered

the historic value and preservation of the site and they never consulted the Hopewell

Township Master Plan Historic Element.

�� Therefore, the Mercer County Freeholders should require Keller & Kirkpatrick to do a new

analysis of alternatives that includes the history and preservation of the site. This should be

done by K&K at no cost to the taxpayers since the original report was “fatally incomplete”. The

new report should have more emphasis on the rehab options due to the need to preserve the

site of the Victory Trail.

�� Supporting documents missing from report:

o Wetlands Investigation Report April 2006

o Field Inspection Workbook

o Traffic Needs Assessment

�� Other previous reports prepared by others missing from report

o Traffic Impact Study for Janssen Pharmaceutica Master Plan Expansion 11/6/03

o Alternatives Analysis report dated 5/10/95 Ammann & Whitney

o Abbreviated Archeological Survey Report 9/24/96 prepared by NJDOT

�� The Hughes Administration should appoint a task force that includes affected

Hopewell residents to restart this process and examine it in a comprehensive transparent

fashion.