Route 71 Drawbridge To Be Closed For Several Months: NJ DOT

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — The Route 71/Main Street drawbridge over the Shark River is scheduled to be closed and detoured for several months to make permanent bridge repairs, the NJ Department of Transportation announced on Thursday.

Built in 1932, the bridge (which sits over the Shark River between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea) was initially closed to vehicular traffic on June 13 following a mechanical failure on the South Bridge leaf.

After interim repairs were completed over the summer, the bridge was able to reopen on Aug. 7 to vehicular and pedestrian traffic and to resume normal operations.

Beginning at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Route 71/Main Street will be closed and detoured in both directions until late February 2026, officials said. The closure is necessary to make permanent repairs to the bridge.

According to the NJ Department of Transportation, the permanent repairs to the South leaf are similar to the repairs made last year to the North leaf, where a hydraulic piston system was installed to replace mechanical components, which are no longer available.

The NJ Department of Transportation has a capital project in design to replace the Route 71 Bridge over Shark River, with final design expected to begin next year, and construction expected to start in 2028 and be completed in 2031.

While the closure is in place, department officials said the bridge will be lifted into the open position to allow marine traffic to pass, as the NJ Department of Transportation is legally obligated to let marine traffic pass since it has the right of way.

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

Details on the shuttle bus are below, along with the detours that will be in place:

Detours

• Route 71/Main Street (Northbound from Belmar to Avon-by-the-Sea)
  • 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

• Route 71/Main Street (Southbound from Avon-by-the-Sea to Belmar)
  • 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

Free Shuttle Bus
To accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists who wish to go between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, a free shuttle bus will begin running on Tuesday, October 14.

The shuttle will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during construction, officials said.

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:

Belmar Stops

• West Railroad Avenue & 10th Avenue (Belmar Train Station: Southbound Platform)
• Main Street & 10th Avenue
• Main Street & 8th Avenue
• River Road & Main Street
• West Railroad Avenue & 7th Avenue

Avon-by-the-Sea Stops

• Main Street & Sylvania Avenue
• Main Street & Washington Avenue
• Jefferson Avenue & Main Street
• Main Street & Garfield Avenue

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

Previous Coverage

• Interim Route 71 Bridge Repairs Set To Be Complete In August: NJ DOT
• Rt. 71 Bridge Over Shark River Will Remain Closed For Foreseeable Future; Monmouth County Furious