Jersey shore, you’ve got your drawbridge back.
The now infamous Route 71 drawbridge over the Shark River between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea is scheduled to reopen to vehicles and pedestrians at 4 p.m. Friday, state Department of Transportation officials said.
The 92-year-old bridge had a mechanical malfunction of the mechanisms that raise and lower the span on March 1. Crews used a crane to put the bridge in the open position on March 12 to allow marine traffic to pass, which is a requirement of federal law.
Crews have been working multiple shifts everyday since March, including through Memorial Day weekend, to repair the bridge, install new components, and complete rigorous testing before the bridge was returned to normal operating status.
Despite that, the DOT will continue to run a free shuttle bus between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. during the weekend to provide spectators and participants in the Avon 5K Run/Walk on Saturday morning an additional way to get from Belmar to Avon-by-the-Sea for the event.
Meanwhile, NJDOT is nearing completion of high priority structural steel repairs to the expansion joints on the the fixed portion of the bridge. These repairs are being done under the bridge and don’t affect the operation of the bridge. They’re scheduled to be completed in late June, DOT officials said.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry.
