Mathis Bridge Is Now Fully Reopened, Ahead Of Schedule, DOT Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ - It's finished.

After three long years, the eastbound lanes of the Mathis Bridge have reopened ahead of schedule, just in time for Memorial Day and the start of the summer season.

State Department of Transportation officials said all three lanes were reopened at 11 p.m. on Thursday night by Schiavone Construction Company, the state's contractor.

"There may be occasional daily single lane closures on the Mathis Bridge between Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for final completion work," according to a DOT release. "No lanes are anticipated to be closed on the weekends."

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

The eastbound Mathis Bridge and westbound Tunney Bridges are a pair of bridges carry traffic along
Route 37 over Barnegat Bay between Toms River and Seaside Heights. The Mathis Bridge, a milelong
double leaf bascule moveable span bridge completed in 1950, is the older of the two and was
in need of repairs.

The $56.4 million federally-funded project replaced the existing bridge deck on the Mathis Bridge,
which was 68 years old, made safety improvements to the barrier and railings, and repaired and
replaced mechanical and electrical components that operate the moveable lift span.

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

The construction cycle required a full closure of the Mathis Bridge, which was limited to November 1 to April 30 each year.

Photo: Karen Wall