'A Miracle': Jersey Shore Bridge Reopens Weeks Ahead Of Schedule

LOWER TOWNSHIP, NJ — County officials are praising workers who “made a miracle happen” as the Middle Thorofare Bridge has reopened after only a few days of being closed. Repairs were anticipated to take many weeks as a best-case scenario.

The bridge, which links Diamond Beach and Wildwood Crest to Cape May, closed on Aug. 18 after a motor failure. But it's reopened to vehicular, pedestrian and bike traffic as of 2 a.m. Aug. 21, according to the Cape May County Bridge Commission.

Since its sudden closure, “Bridge Commission staff and County officials were able to source a new drive-shaft motor, and County and Bridge Commission staff worked tirelessly from morning to night to complete extensive repairs to the bridge’s drive-shaft-motor system deeming it fully operational at the conclusion of their work,” the Bridge Commission said.

“On behalf of the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners, I want to extend my heartfelt and sincere thanks to our County public works, bridge commission staff, and consultant electrical engineers for their efforts to source a new motor and for working long hours to repair the system that resulted in the reopening of the Middle Thorofare Bridge,” said Commissioner Director/Liason to the Bridge Commission Leonard Desiderio. “Under the leadership of our County Administrator and Bridge Commission Director Kevin Lare, we took a best-case multi-week closure scenario and made a miracle happen. With that said, the dedication and commitment of our County team to restore the bridge to full functionality is truly commendable.”

All traffic can now resume normal use of the Middle Thorofare Bridge without any restrictions.