Emergency repairs on the Route 71 drawbridge that connects Belmar to Avon-by-the-Sea have forced the shutdown of the busy thoroughfare, and officials can’t give an estimate as to when it will reopen.
The drawbridge has been shut down since Friday, when officials deemed it inoperable.
The Shark River channel, which the Route 71 Bridge spans, was also closed to boat traffic, but that was restored Saturday after a crane came in to lift the South Bridge leaf to the upright position. The channel marine traffic has the right of way, so the state Department of Transportation is obligated to keep it open at the expense of foot and vehicular traffic.
The Route 71 bridge over the Shark River (front), between Belmar (left) and Avon-By-The- Sea, is shown Friday, March 8, 2024.
The North Leaf is being lowered occasionally to keep it in working order and to take stress off the parts that keep it upright, the state Department of Transportation said. Boats that can pass under without the bridge raised are free to do so.
The mechanical failures occurred in the South Leaf. The North Leaf, repaired last year after a similar problem, remains in working condition.
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There was no word on how long it would take for emergency repairs on the 93-year-old span to be completed, one of the issues rankling county officials.
“The extended closure of the Route 71 bridge is deeply concerning and undeniably disruptive for residents, businesses, and visitors who rely on this important connection between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, especially during the summer months,” Monmouth County Commisioner Director Thomas A. Arnone said in a statement. “While we understand that the bridge is nearly a century old, it’s clear that this mechanical failure could have been avoided with consistent preventative maintenance. It’s unfortunate that we are now facing a long-term closure due to a situation that might have been prevented.”
Meanwhile, DOT’s structural evaluation and drawbridge engineers are determining “the extent of necessary repairs and designing a permanent repair as quickly as possible,” a department spokesman said in an email, adding that a timeline for repairs has not been set.
But a timeline for the replacement of the bridge has.
A capital project for a new Route 71 Bridge is in the design stage. The final design work is expected to begin next year. Construction is estimated to begin in 2028 and end in 2031, a year before the bridge’s centennial, the spokesman said.
Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Route 71 drawbridge between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea closed