WEIGH IN ON POSSIBLE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Monmouth County officials will hold two public-input sessions on whether to repair or replace the Rumson-Sea Bright bridge.   (Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A new bridge to replace the Route 520 span between Rumson and Sea Bright is among the options on the table for review and discussion next Monday.

Monmouth County officials plan to hold two public information sessions that day to get input on whether to rehabilitate or replace the bascule span over the Shrewsbury River.

Here’s an announcement from the county:

On Monday, Feb. 27, Monmouth County will hold two public meetings about the status of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (S-32) over the Shrewsbury River between Rumson and Sea Bright:

• A daytime meeting will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Sea Bright Municipal Building public meeting room at 1167 Ocean Ave. in Sea Bright. A brief presentation will be held at 2 p.m.
• An evening meeting will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rumson Municipal Building public meeting room at 80 E. River Rd. in Rumson. A brief presentation will be held at 7 p.m.

“The bridge that connects Sea Bright and Rumson is being evaluated for possible rehabilitation or replacement,” Freeholder Deputy Director Thomas A. Arnone said. “Citizen participation at these meetings will be helpful in developing a detailed evaluation of this bridge and allow the county to outline the options under consideration.”

Both meetings will be conducted in an “open house” format where display boards will provide information about the current bridge. Representatives from the Monmouth County Division of Engineering will be on hand to answer questions and to explain the evaluation process to residents, local officials and the business community.

“These meetings are part of a local concept development study,” said county Engineer Joseph Ettore. “This is the beginning of a detailed process to determine if the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge should be rehabilitated, replaced or kept as is.”

For those unable to attend and provide comment at the meetings, the county will accept written comments through March 28, 2012.

Written comments should be sent by email to [email protected], by fax to 732-431-7765 or by mail to Inkyung Englehart, Project Coordinator, Monmouth County Department of Public Works, Division of Engineering, Hall of Records Annex, 1 East Main St, 3rd Floor, Freehold, NJ  07728. A downloadable comment form and project information is posted on the Public Works and Engineering section of the county Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com