The temporary deck of the bridge was erected in 2004.

Four years after its deck was replaced with a temporary metal structure, the West Front Street Bridge is again facing shutdown — this time so a permanent replacement can be built.

The Monmouth County Engineering Department, headed by Joe Ettore, has scheduled two public information meetings this week to discuss “the improvement alternatives” of the bridge, also known as Hubbard’s Bridge, which links Red Bank to the River Plaza section of Middletown. It crosses the headwaters of the Navesink River where it is fed by the Swimming River.

For some time, the family that owned the house at the northeast corner of West Front and Hubbard Avenue had signs on their lawn protesting the use of eminent domain in the project.

From a story in the Asbury Park Press on June 29, 2006:

The project could cost up to $10 million and would involve acquiring 0.17 acres from five different property owners, Ettore said. The county will apply for federal and state funds for the engineering and construction costs and property acquisition…

Building the new bridge north of the existing structure would allow the county to keep West Front Street open throughout most of the construction, which is expected to take two years. The road only would have to be closed for three months, Ettore said.

More than 21,000 cars cross the bridge each day, he said.

The meetings are scheduled for tomorrow night (Tuesday) at the River Plaza School on Hubbard Avenue and Thursdat at the Red Bank Senior Citizen’s Center. Both are expected to run 90 minutes, starting at 7p.

Email this story