For Immediate Release:

December 8, 2011

 

        Detours to be posted

Belmar Blvd. to close for bridge replacement

Road to re-open in time for Memorial Day

 

WALL, NJ – Work to replace Monmouth County’s bridge over the Shark River on Belmar Boulevard is scheduled to begin Monday, Dec. 12 and to continue until May 2012.

 

“While the current bridge has served the traveling public well since 1945, it has had a 5-ton weight restriction for sometime,” Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley said. “The new structure and other improvements should serve the local residents, commuters and visitors to southern Monmouth County for many decades.”

 

To replace the bridge and reconstruct the bulkhead on the north side of the bridge, Belmar Boulevard will be closed to all vehicular traffic during construction. Pedestrians will be provided access across the river during the anticipated five month project. 

 

Motorists should use the signed detours and expect travel delays throughout the project. All motor vehicle traffic on Belmar Boulevard, between Marconi Road and State Highway 35 will be detoured.

 

Specifically, eastbound traffic on Belmar Boulevard in Wall will detour south on Marconi Road to Route 138 and travel east to Route 35 toward Belmar. Conversely, westbound traffic from Belmar should follow Route 35 and detour onto Route 138 west to Marconi Road and travel north to Belmar Boulevard in Wall.

 

“The structurally-deficient dual span bridge on Belmar Boulevard will be replaced with a new pre-cast concrete, reinforced steel-frame culvert,” County Engineer Joseph Ettore said. “The new structure will meet current vehicular highway load requirements and eliminate the current weight restrictions on the bridge.”

 

The work will be performed by the Mugrose Construction Inc. of West Caldwell. A contract in the amount of $1,838,682 was awarded by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Aug.25.

 

“The county understands the inconvenience these detours will have on motorists and local residents,” said John W. Tobia, director of the county’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “Unfortunately, this work cannot be completed without the closure of the bridge and road to vehicular traffic. Weather permitting, the project is to be completed in time for the Memorial Day weekend.”

 

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