New Jersey: Pedestrian Bridge links communities.

Pedestrians will no longer have to look both ways before crossing the street. The new Cloverleaf Drive Pedestrian Bridge not only crosses a high-speed ramp, but marked a milestone partnership between county, municipal and state agencies working together to ensure pedestrian safety.

The Regional Center Partnership, a multi-town coalition comprised of the Bridgewater, Raritan, and Somerville municipalities, was initially formed to examine common infrastructure solutions that included investigating various ways for pedestrians to safely cross Cloverleaf Drive between municipalities. The result of this unique partnership was the building of a pedestrian bridge that linked communities by eliminating an at-grade pedestrian crossing that averaged more than 300 crossings per day.

"They said it would never work but through the collective efforts and dedication of the people and agencies from the local, county and state levels, we have created something very wonderful and unique here," Denise Coyle, Freeholder, Somerset County explained during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The only tri-municipality group of its kind in the state, the Regional Center Partnership is comprised of two representatives from each of the three municipalities plus a mix of representatives from local non-profit and private sector members. Additionally, the Partnership collaborated with officials from Somerset County, The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, The Bridgewater Commons Mall, local police, council and community members, the local planning boards, public works departments, and the students of the Immaculata and Somerville-Bridgewater High Schools. A joint planning effort was implemented to study the problem and find solutions to increase public safety and to link the communities of Somerville and Bridgewater.