Info Session Set on Development Phase for Two-Mile Bridge Upgrade

VILLAS – The county is beginning the development phase to improve the Middle Thorofare Bridge, also called Two Mile Bridge.
It will host the third public information session Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Lower Township Hall.
According to a release, the purpose of the meeting will be to present the conceptual alternatives and obtain comments. Additional public outreach meetings will be held at the Meeting Room of Township Hall, Lower Township.
Along the Middle Thorofare, there are two county-owned bridges and one county Bridge Commission-owned bridge located along the Ocean Drive Causeway. The three main bridges on the causeway are Mill Creek, Upper Thorofare, and Middle Thorofare.
The three bridges were built in 1939 with an expected service life of 75 years, which has been exceeded. Currently, heavy truck traffic is prohibited (load posted at 15 tons) on the Middle Thorofare Bridge. The bridges are currently safe to travel on but do require on-going structural maintenance.
Currently, Ocean Drive is below the 100-year flood elevation, and it is an important evacuation route for the southern end of the Wildwoods. It is the last of the three access points to the Wildwoods to become impassible during a storm, and thus is critically important for evacuation.
Much of the roadbed was constructed at an elevation of 7.5 feet on fill in 1940 and has settled to an approximate elevation of 6 feet, which is well below the 11 foot 100-year flood elevation depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
During the study, the project team will coordinate with representatives from the NJDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Cape May County, Cape May County Bridge Commission, Lower Township, City of Wildwood, Borough of Wildwood Crest and other stakeholders.
The public is encouraged to visit capemaytwomilebridge.com for more information. Lower Township Hall is located at 2600 Bayshore Road in Villas.