Traffic on the Shore

Route 71 Bridge Reopens Between Belmar, Avon

Span over Shark River closed after Hurricane Sandy

The Route 71 bridge over the Shark River is now open. A detour that rerouted Route 71 traffic onto Route 35 in Belmar since Hurricane Sandy is over. State Department of Transportation officials announced the span between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, at the north end of Main Street in Belmar reopened to vehicular traffic. Repair work after the storm is complete "days ahead of schedule," said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson in a news release today. “We are pleased to get this bridge back in service ahead of schedule because we understand its importance to residents, business owners and visitors," said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson. Since the storm forced the bridge's closure for electrical repairs, detours on both sides of the river put …

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Route 71 Bridge Work Complete

Reopened to traffic during overnight hours

Work is complete on the Route 71 bridge connecting downtown Belmar with Avon-By-The-Sea, officials said. The state Department of Transportation had closed the bridge during the overnight hours this week while crews worked to upgrade the bridge's safety barrier gates. But on Wednesday, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said he was informed the bridge was once again fully operational.  The closures, which began Monday, were necessary for a manufacturer’s warranty upgrade on the new safety barrier gates, according to a DOT release. which will be performed at no-cost to the state, the release says. In 2011, the DOT completed a project to rehabilitate the mechanical and electrical systems on the bridge and installed new safety barrier gates, the …

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Route 71 Bridge Closings Start Monday

Upgrades will close DOT bridge from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through May 5

Route 71 Bridge Overnight Closings Start Monday

Upgrades will close DOT bridge from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through May 5

The Route 71 bridge connecting downtown Belmar with Avon-By-The-Sea will be closed during the overnight hours next week while crews work to upgrade the bridge's safety barrier gates, officials said.  The state Department of Transportation, beginning Monday, April 30, will pin the bridge in the open position from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., repeating the process each night that week, according to a release from the state Department of Transportation.  The project is expected to be completed by Saturday, May 5, at 6 a.m., the release says.  During the overnight hours, traffic will be redirected to the Route 35 bridge just one west of the Route 71 bridge, the release says. The Ocean Avenue bridge, six blocks to the east, is another option.  The …

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Charlie LaPlaca

7:37 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

We apologize for any confusion. A previous release informed us that the bridge would be closed during daytime hours. Apparently it was wrong. Thanks for your understanding.   more ›