New West Front Street Bridge, Connecting Middletown, Red Bank, Has Opened

The new West Front Street Bridge, which spans the Swimming River between Middletown and Red Bank, has opened.

“Local residents, commuters and travelers have been looking forward to this day since January 5,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the county’s Department of Public Works and Engineering, said in a prepared statement. “The 19-week closure was difficult for motorists, but it was necessary. Today we are pleased to provide residents and commuters with a new bridge that will safely serve their needs for a very long time.”

The bridge opened Monday, after crews built a new 488-foot long steel girder bridge to the north of the existing bridge, according to a notice from the county, posted on the township’s website. The new bridge is 44-feet wide and has two 12-foot travel lanes.

“The bridge is open to motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, but the construction work will continue,” Freeholder Director Gary J. Rich said in a prepared statement. “The old, temporary bridge must be removed and finishing work must be completed to the bridge approaches.”

That construction work is expected to continue until April 2016.

“Our intention was to make sure the new bridge was open for the unofficial start of summer,” Freeholder John P. Curley said in a prepared statement. “We are very aware of the needs and wishes of the local residents. We made good on the promise to have this bridge open before Memorial Day.”