Mathis Bridge to Be Fully Reopened By Memorial Day, DOT says

TOMS RIVER, NJ - State Department of Transportation officials say that the $56.4 million, three-year project to revamp the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge that runs eastbound from Route 37 to Seaside Heights is almost finished.

All three lanes of the bridge should be finished before Memorial Day and the start of the summer season, the DOT said.

The federally-funded project replaced the existing bridge deck on the Mathis Bridge, which was built in 1950, made safety improvements to the barrier and railings, and repaired and replaced mechanical and electrical components that operate the moveable lift span.

Construction was done over three winter seasons so summer traffic would not be affected.

The DOT's contractor, Schiavone Construction Company, will begin to shift one lane of eastbound traffic from the Tunney Bridge back onto the Mathis Bridge on Wednesday, starting at 9 a.m. The lane shift should be completed by early Thursday morning, the DOT said.

While the Mathis Bridge was closed for construction, two lanes of traffic westbound and one lane eastbound were used on the Tunney Bridge, separated by a moveable barrier. Before reopening, the remaining two lanes on the Mathis Bridge, the temporary crossover from Route 37 eastbound onto the Tunney Bridge must be removed.

The eastbound Mathis Bridge and westbound Tunney bridges carry traffic from Route 37 over Barnegat Bay between Toms River and Seaside Heights. The Mathis Bridge, a mile-long double leaf bascule moveable span bridge completed in 1950, is the older of the two and needed repairs.

Construction was done in three winter seasons, so summer traffic would not be affected. New warning gates and lights were installed, and new bridge approaches and the cast-in-place anchor spans were completed during this last construction season.

The construction cycle required a full closure of the Mathis Bridge, which was limited to November 1 to April 30 each year. During each of these construction cycles, summer traffic from approximately May 15 to September 15 was not affected with all three lanes on each bridge opened to traffic.

To see a more detailed description of the project, click here.

Photo: Karen Wall