Chadwick Beach Island Bridge Study Funding Approved

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The bridge that connects Chadwick Beach Island to Route 35 on the barrier island in Toms River may be getting some needed attention after officials approved a study of the bridge in March, Ocean County officials said.

The Chadwick Beach Island Bridge was built in the 1950s, according to a news release from the freeholders. The two-lane bridge on Strickland Boulevard, which survived Superstorm Sandy, received new deck boards, pile caps and railings in 1985, but officials said the timber bulkheads and load-bearing piles are deteriorating and need to be replaced. In addition, the bridge’s width and sidewalk do not meet current standards. The bridge is heavily used by pedestrians and bicyclists and connects the island's 300 homes to the rest of the barrier island.

Ocean County will oversee the study to determine the best course of action for rehabilitating or replacing bridge, a study to be paid for with $325,000 in federal funds approved by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority at its March meeting.

“This study is a critical first step in improving the Chadwick Beach Island Bridge,” said Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, a member of the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “This timber bridge is the only way residents and others can get on and off Chadwick Beach Island, and it’s critical that we replace or rehabilitate the structure.”

Funding for the study is provided through the Local Concept Development Phase of the NJTPA's Fiscal Year 2018 Local Capital Project Delivery Program. The Local Capital Project Delivery Program awards grants to NJTPA member counties and cities to investigate all aspects of a project, including environmental, right of way access, design and feasibility issues. The NJTPA Board approved a combined $2.76 million for studies in FY 2018 and FY 2019 at its March 13 meeting in Newark.

According to the NJTPA, Local Concept Development is the first phase of the Local Capital Project Delivery Program, which guides projects from initial concepts all the way to construction, the news release from the freeholders said.

During the initial phase, the county will identify and compare reasonable alternatives and strategies and select a preferred alternative. Projects that complete this initial investigative work may be eligible for eventual construction with federal funds. More information on the program can be found at www.njtpa.org.

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