A 2012 photo of the Oceanic Bridge surface. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
The Oceanic Bridge between Rumson and Middletown will undergo repair work starting next week that will entail single-lane operation during the daytime and overnight closures until mid-April, the Monmouth County government announced Friday afternoon.
Work on the structural steel and concrete deck of the Navesink River span, also known as S-31, is scheduled to start Monday at 9 a.m.
From the county announcement:
To complete the work, the County has developed a schedule to keep the bridge fully open to traffic during its busiest travel times: the morning and afternoon rush hours.
Single lane closures during the mid-day and early evening hours will facilitate the movement of
vehicular and pedestrian traffic across the busy span. A full overnight closure will also be in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The Oceanic Bridge schedule from on or about Feb. 2 to on or about April 15 will be:
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. – both bridge lanes open to all traffic
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – single lane closure with alternating lanes of vehicular traffic
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – both bridge lanes open to all traffic
6 p.m. to 10 p.m. – single lane closure with alternating lanes of vehicular traffic
10 p.m. to 6 a.m. – bridge closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic
For marine traffic, seasonal rules and scheduling will be in effect.
“This work must be done to keep the Oceanic Bridge in working condition during its regular operating season,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “We appreciate the patience of the travelling public while we work to keep the bridge operational and get the necessary work completed.”
The staggered times will allow the contactor, George Harms Construction Co., Inc. of Howell, to
perform the required work above and below the bridge deck.
Motorists may want to plan an alternate route. Motor vehicle traffic on Bingham Avenue between Rumson and Middletown (CR-8) should travel east and north through Sea Bright and Highlands to Middletown. Motor vehicle traffic on Navesink River Road and Locust Point Road in Middletown (CR-8) should travel east and south through Middletown, Highlands and Sea Bright to Rumson.
Weather permitting, the work is expected to be completed by April 15.
County Engineer Joe Ettore has said in the past that the 75-year-old bridge will need to be replaced within 10 years at an estimated cost of $75 million.
