Navesink River Road Will Remain Closed At McClees Creek Bridge

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Navesink River Road will remain closed to traffic until at least next week, June 23, near the bridge over McClees Creek.

Emergency repairs need to be made to the retaining wall, which was damaged in the heavy rain this week, said the county. The retaining wall was in danger of collapsing.

"The excessive recent rainfall saturated the underlying soils supporting the roadway approach, resulting in movement of the adjacent retaining walls and visible roadway settlement," said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone. "For the safety of the public, the county closed the road and initiated repairs."

“I want to stress that there is no damage to the bridge itself," he added.

An emergency contractor was on site at 7 a.m. Thursday to begin repairs to the retaining wall.

“We put our trust in the expertise of our hired professionals, and we will ensure they are held fully accountable for this unacceptable failure,” said Arnone.

Navesink River Road is one of the most scenic in the area; it overlooks the Navesink River and Gov. Phil Murphy's mansion, among other estates, is located off it.

“Please know that we understand the public's frustration and are working diligently to reopen the road," said Arnone. “We ask that everyone in the area follow the posted detours during the closure.”

In 2021: Navesink River Rd. Now Closed To All Traffic Until Spring This was for the replacement of the McClees Creek bridge