New East Bay Avenue Bridge In Barnegat Opens Today

The newly-constructed East Bay Avenue bridge in Barnegat is open for business.

The bridge - which replaced a 50-year-old timber bridge - opened to traffic on Friday morning, Ocean County officials said.

“We are pleased to complete the replacement of this span prior to the summer season,” said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Engineering. “This new span will make for improved and safer travel for our residents and visitors.”

The $3.7 million project started in mid-September and was completed within the scheduled nine months.

“The original plan was to leave a lane of travel available throughout the project but after receiving the approval of Barnegat Township officials we closed the bridge and detoured traffic away from the project,” said Ocean County Engineer John Ernst. “We agreed to have the project substantially completed prior to July 4.”

The contractor, Marbro Inc., of West End, constructed a new, three-span 135-foot-long galvanized steel plate girder bridge with a cast-in-place reinforced concrete bridge, with the same clearance as the old bridge.

“The original bridge was functionally obsolete,” Kelly said. “The new bridge will serve our motorists for years to come.”

The work also included minor approach roadway reconstruction adjacent to the bridge along with new guide rail and new marine navigation lights.

“While some incidental items still need to be completed by the contractor, the new bridge is constructed and will be open to motorists on June 17,” Kelly said. “I am very pleased to make this announcement in advance of the July 4 deadline.”

The span, which consists of a lane traveling east and one west, crosses over Double Creek, an environmentally protected marshland.

The county held fund the project with $1 million from the state Department of Transportation.