The tolls are going up on the Downbeach Express.
The road, formerly known as the Margate Causeway, will be costlier this summer amid rising expenses for routine maintenance, according to the company that owns the roadway.
Cash-paying drivers will see a 25-cent increase on the Downbeach Express in Margate, to $2.50 beginning June 17.
Express pass holders will see a lower hike, 20 cents, raising the cost to $1.85, said Ole Hansen & Sons Inc., the company that owns the tolls and bridges on the road.
Fares were last raised two years ago, according to reports. Most cars currently pay $2.25 under the toll on the back bay side of Margate, while express pass holders pay $1.65.
The rise adjusts to the increase in costs associated with maintaining the company’s four bridges and 2-mile roadway that connects Northfield on the mainland to Margate, said Jennifer Hansen, Ole Hansen & Sons’ president.
“These structures are nearly 95 years old and require continuous and diligent upkeep, Hansen said in a statement Tuesday. “Our commitment to safety and quality necessitates these periodic adjustments. Our bridges undergo rigorous inspections every two years.”
Having an express pass, she said, represents a 26% discount for fares paid in cash. The plaza does not accept E-ZPass.
The company initially obtained property in the vicinity in 1970, followed by additional acquisitions in 1975, according to property records.
The causeway is accessible by Mill Road in Northfield, ending at a small toll plaza leading into Jerome Avenue in Margate. The roadway passes over dense marshlands, with views of Atlantic City’s towering casinos and the immediate shore communities.
The causeway is the only tolled road with access to Margate. The town can be accessed through Ventnor to the north and Longport to the south.
Hansen said the bridge at the toll plaza has undergone extensive repairs. Three bridges have been revamped to anchor guardrails. Its drawbridge has also been rehabbed
The entire causeway, she said, also has freshly painted lines.
“In alignment with the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s new in-depth reporting guidelines, we proactively address any necessary repairs and upgrades,” Hansen said. “We take our responsibility very seriously.”
The increase mirrors those of state highways that saw a bump in toll costs. In February, New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway drivers began seeing a 3% in toll fares, the third increase in three years.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
