Oceanic Bridge Stuck in Open Position, Take Alternate Route

If you are planning on using the Oceanic Bridge to cross the Navesink River between Rumson and Middletown, plan another route.

The bridge has been closed since 3:00 p.m. today. The bridge lost power when in the open position and was stuck upright for a while. The county explained in a released statement that, "bridge tenders managed to close the bascule span manually, but because there was no power to lock the pins that secure the bridge, the span had to be closed."

According to county officials, Jersey Central Power & Light has been notified and is responding to restore electric power to the bridge. Electric power is need to securely lock the bridge in place for the safe passage of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. 

Police say that they do not know when the problem will be resolved.

Motorists should expect delays and should use detours. The county has provided these alternate routes for drivers:

• In Middletown, motorists traveling to Red Bank should use Navesink River Road; motorists traveling to Sea Bright should use Locust Point Road to Locust Avenue to Navesink Avenue to Route 36.
• In Rumson, motorists traveling to Red Bank should use River Road East to Front Street; motorists traveling to Sea Bright should use Bingham Avenue(County Route 8A) to Rumson Road (County Route 520) to Ocean Avenue.