Bridge to Close Feb. 3 for Repairs; Steel Poles Planned on Boulevard

CREST HAVEN – County Engineer Dale Foster reported to freeholders that the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge would be closed beginning Feb. 3 for about 12 weeks for structural repairs. The project’s contractor “has been setting up,” he added.
“This is a two-year project. Structural repairs will be done this season and mechanical repairs will be done next winter,” he said.
The job is a $4.4-million rehabilitation of the link between Sea Isle City and Avalon on Ocean Drive.
“It’s rather costly,” Foster said. Signs will be going up to alert motorists of the pending closure.
Such a closing means many contacts must be made prior to the commencement of work.
As preparations continue for the upgrade of Sea Isle City Boulevard, Foster said one of the changes motorists will see is replacement of wooden poles supporting Atlantic City Electric’s wires with steel poles.
Frank Tedesco, Atlantic City Electric media relations manager confirmed that phase 1 of the project is complete, putting foundations under those pole locations.
Phase 2, placement of the poles and wiring them is tentatively scheduled to begin in February and “will be completed before the summer season begins.” Final cost of the utility upgrade is unknown, Tedesco said.
He stated the utility has plans to replace wooden transmission poles with steel poles in various locations. All projects are presently in the design phase, and not all locations have been confirmed.
“Atlantic City Electric will continue to invest in its electric system to improve reliability for customers and to help protect its electric grid from potential damages associated with severe weather events,” Tedesco said. “Part of the company’s ongoing reliability work includes replacing wooden transmission poles with steel poles where warranted.”
A March 2013 storm snapped 20 wooden poles along Stone Harbor Boulevard, resulting in the road’s closure until they were repaired.