Belmar, Avon communities react to proposed Rt. 71 bridge project

A first peek at engineering plans for the Route 71 bridge between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey, drew a bigger-than-anticipated crowd of concerned business owners, town officials, and residents from both sides of the Shark River. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) shared its early-stage engineering design concepts to replace or repair the deteriorating structure, which connects the Main Streets of both towns, during an informal public information session at the Avon-by-the-Sea Marina on April 24.

According to NJDOT representatives, the federally funded project is currently in the concept development phase to review possible “solutions” to address mounting issues with the movable bridge, which was built in 1932 on a foundation of driven timber piles. The span was heavily damaged during Superstorm Sandy and was previously closed in 2011 and 2014 for electrical and mechanical rehabilitation and repairs. Recent inspections of the Main Street bridge, which are conducted every two years, have identified worsening structural conditions that can no longer be addressed by routine maintenance — from drainage and pavement deterioration, to section loss in the steel due to corrosion.

William Birch, executive regional manager for the NJDOT Division of Project Management, described the bridge as “borderline structurally deficient.”

The Shark River inlet under the Route 71 drawbridge is one of New Jersey’s busiest commercial boating channels, and U.S. Coast Guard regulations require it to open upon demand for marine traffic. Citing aesthetic and quality-of-life issues, however, residents and business owners overwhelmingly rejected the engineering design concept that would replace the existing low-level movable bridge with a fixed 61-foot-high structure resembling the nearby span over State Highway 35 between Belmar and Neptune Township, New Jersey.

An alternative plan presented during the meeting calls for the construction of a new 21-foot movable bridge similar in design to the existing lift bridge it would replace. NJDOT and its team of engineers also discussed a major rehabilitative option to elevate the existing bridge by six inches to make needed structural repairs and upgrades.

The concept development phase of the project began in July 2017. An estimated timeline shows preliminary engineering beginning in fall 2019, final design starting in 2021, and construction commencing in fall 2023. According to an NJDOT information sheet: “The construction duration is anticipated to be three years and require non-seasonal (November through April) closures to all traffic. Vehicular traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction during the summer seasons (May through October). One side of the bridge will open to bicyclists and pedestrians during the summer seasons.”

“During summertime, this would be a nightmare as far as traffic being detoured to Ocean Avenue or up to Highway 35,” said Belmar Mayor Brian Magovern in an interview with News 12 New Jersey.

During the meeting, local Belmar and Avon business owners, in particular, expressed concerns about the detrimental impact of detours during the long construction phase. Audience members also asked NJDOT officials about the possibility of eminent domain, to which Birch responded that “property acquisition” could be likely.

NJDOT officials stressed that the community will have additional opportunities to provide feedback during the concept development phase. The next public meeting on the project is scheduled for June 7, with the location to be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, for more information, contact Denise Peck, NJDOT Office of Community & Constituent Relations, at 609-530-2110 or by email.

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