Ocean Avenue Bridge Over Shark River to Close for Repairs

The Ocean Avenue bridge spanning the Shark River will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, April 27 and 28, for ongoing repairs.

The Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering announced that the closure will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. The bridge will remain open to marine traffic.

The county conducted similar closures for two nights at the beginning of the month.

The work is being done by IEW Construction Group of Trenton and the Bridge Division of the Monmouth County Department of Public Works.

This second two-evening closure comes in the midst of a long-term rehabilitation project at the Shark River crossing of Main Street (Route 71) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. During this time, the only means of passing the Shark River will be by the Route 35 bridge.

The Main Street bridge has been closed to all motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic since Oct. 7. The $17.8 million project, which also includes improvements to the Route 88 Bridge in Point Pleasant, is scheduled to conclude by May 1.

"The county understands the inconvenience these detours will have on motorists and local residents," John W. Tobia, director of the county's Department of Public Works and Engineering, said. "Unfortunately, this work cannot be completed without the nighttime closure of Shark River bridge."