Changes Coming To The Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge

RUMSON, NJ — Monmouth County will be testing a new alternate schedule for boat traffic under the Rumson-Sea Bright bridge this summer. Instead of opening every hour and half hour, as it does now, the bridge will now only open once every hour, and when boaters request it.

The Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (S-32) over the Shrewsbury River will operate on an alternative marine traffic schedule, opening on the hour on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from May 25 through Sept. 3 as part of a trial test period this summer.

Monmouth County requested the U.S. Coast Guard consider an alternative schedule to balance the seasonally high volume of cars on the bridge with the needs of boat traffic below on the Shrewsbury.

“The current schedule provides that the bridge open for marine traffic on the hour and half hour, which causes significant delays for vehicles traveling on the bridge,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering. “The County has requested an alternative schedule to lessen the impact on the public traveling over the bridge and the surrounding communities.”

Beginning on May 25, and going through Sept. 3, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day), the bridge will open for marine traffic every hour, on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For all other times, the bridge will be opened on demand as necessary.

“The County’s Division of Engineering will be monitoring the test schedule very closely and hopes that the expected positive impact of this schedule change will lead to a permanent change of the current regulations,” said Director Arnone.

Previously, the bridge opened on the hour and half hour from May 15 through Sept. 30 as per Code of Federal Regulations (33 CFR 117.755).

The Coast Guard will make a final decision on the future bridge marine opening schedule based on data collected during the test period as well as public comments.

If you have questions on this test deviation, call or email Ms. Donna Leoce, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, telephone 212–514–4332, donna.d.leoce@uscg.mil.

Photo of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge provided by Monmouth County.