Interim Route 71 Bridge Repairs Set To Be Complete In August: NJ DOT

BELMAR, NJ — Following a June closure at the bridge, the NJ Department of Transportation (NJ DOT) announced Friday that interim repairs to reopen the Route 71 drawbridge over the Shark River are expected to be complete in August.

The drawbridge, which sits over the Shark River between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, was closed to vehicular traffic on June 13 following a mechanical failure on the South Bridge leaf.

Since then, NJ DOT officials said crews have been working “around the clock, seven days a week” to repair concrete foundations and mechanical components at the bridge.

An interim repair to reopen the bridge to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, as well as restore normal operations, is expected to be complete by early to mid-August.

“NJDOT understands the impact the bridge closure has on the local community and has been working with local officials on a solution to reopen the bridge during the summer season to minimize the disruption to businesses, residents and visitors,” officials said.

Parts for a permanent repair at the bridge are being manufactured, officials said. The permanent repair is set to take place in the fall and will require the bridge to be closed to traffic and pedestrians again for about two months.

Once full functionality is restored and the bridge is reopened in August, officials said it is expected to remain open through Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 13.

The bridge will then be lifted into the open position and closed to vehicles and pedestrians at some point after that, while permanent repairs are made. At that time, the detour will be restored, and the free shuttle bus will resume.

According to NJ DOT officials, permanent repairs to the south leaf are similar to the repairs made last year to the north leaf, in which a hydraulic piston system was installed to replace mechanical components, which are no longer available.

To learn more, you can visit the NJ Department of Transportation website.

Previous Coverage

• Rt. 71 Bridge Over Shark River Will Remain Closed For Foreseeable Future; Monmouth County Furious