Starting Tuesday, Rt. 71 Bridge Over The Shark River Will Be Closed Through February

BELMAR, NJ — Beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, the Rt. 71/Main Street bridge over the Shark River will be closed through at least late February 2026, announced the NJ Department of Transportation.

The bridge will be permanently lifted into the open position so the commercial fishing boats can pass underneath while work is done.

This is the drawbridge that carries Rt. 71 over the Shark River between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea.

The closure is necessary to complete repairs that were started this summer, said the DOT. The bridge had to temporarily close in June so the DOT could install a hydraulic piston system to replace mechanical components of the bridge that are no longer available. (The bridge was built in 1932.)

The DOT now has to do the same to the south leaf of the bridge.

The NJ DOT is currently working on a capital project to entirely replace the bridge. Final design of what the new bridge will look like is expected to begin in 2026, with construction expected to start in 2028 and be completed in 2031.

In March of 2024, the same bridge suffered a mechanical malfunction and had to remain open for months.

Here are the detours:

Rt. 71/Main Street northbound from Belmar to Avon-by-the-Sea detour:

• Motorists on Route 71 northbound will be directed to turn left onto Eighth Avenue
• Turn right onto Route 35
• Continue over the Route 35/Shark River Bridge and follow signs for Avon by the Sea

Rt. 71/Main Street southbound from Avon-by-the-Sea to Belmar detour:

• Motorists on Route 71 southbound will be directed to turn right onto Sylvania Avenue
• Stay right and take the ramp to Route 35 South/Belmar
• Take the Route 35 Bridge over Shark River into Belmar
• Turn left onto Eighth Avenue and follow to Main Street

A free shuttle bus will be available to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to go between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea. Details:

To accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to go between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, a free shuttle bus will begin running Tuesday, October 14. The shuttle will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during construction. The service will end when the repairs are completed, and the Route 71 Bridge over Shark River reopens to vehicles and pedestrians. The bus has 20 seats, is ADA accessible, and has bicycle carrying capability.

The free shuttle will begin at the Belmar Train Station and run in a continuous loop (30-35 minutes), traveling on Route 71/Main Street northbound in Belmar and then back down River Road to 8th Avenue before using Route 35 to cross Shark River. The bus will take the Sylvania Avenue exit and travel down Route 71/Main Street southbound in Avon-by-the Sea to Washington Street, Station Street, and Jefferson Avenue before going back up Route 71/Main Street northbound to Sylvania Avenue across the Route 35 Bridge over the Shark River back to Belmar.

There are nine bus stops (map attached), and passengers should look for the “Shuttle Bus” signs (photo attached) at the following locations:

Stops in Belmar

1) West Railroad Avenue & 10th Avenue (Belmar Train Station – Southbound platform)

2) Main Street & 10th Avenue

3) Main Street & 8th Avenue

4) River Road & Main Street

5) West Railroad Avenue & 7th Avenue

Stops in Avon-by-the-Sea

6) Main Street & Sylvania Avenue

7) Main Street & Washington Avenue

8) Jefferson Avenue & Main Street

9) Main Street & Garfield Avenue