Damaged Route 71 bridge over Shark River to be closed to vehicular traffic for approximately 60 days
Effects of Hurricane Sandy require extensive electrical repairs
(Trenton) - The Route 71/Main Street Bridge over the Shark River that links Belmar and Avon-By-The-Sea in Monmouth County will be closed to vehicular traffic for approximately 60 days, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced today.
Beginning Friday morning, November 2, NJDOT will pin the bridge in the open position in preparation for extensive electrical repairs to the drawbridge. The electrical and mechanical systems that power the drawbridge were damaged during the onslaught of tidal flooding and wind generated by Hurricane Sandy and need to be repaired or replaced.
• During the closure, motorists and pedestrians will be redirected to the Route 35 bridge over the Shark River, which is located just west of the Route 71/Main Street bridge.
In 2011, NJDOT completed a project to rehabilitate the out-dated mechanical and electrical systems on the bridge and installed new safety barrier gates. That work required an extensive closure and utilized the same detour route.
The Shark River channel is one of the busiest commercial boating channels in the state and the bridge is required to open for marine traffic on-demand, per U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.
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