Ocean Drive Bridge to Close for Repairs

COURT HOUSE — The Ocean Drive (County Road No. 619) Bridge over Townsends Inlet, between the Borough of Avalon and the City of Sea Isle City will close for repairs starting Feb. 3, 2014. Mugrose Construction, Inc., of West Caldwell, NJ, is scheduled to close the Townsends Inlet Bridge to begin a structural rehabilitation program of the movable and tollhouse spans. The work is being performed under a $4,441,262.00 construction contract that involves a structural rehabilitation program this winter season and a mechanical rehabilitation program for the movable span during the 2014-15 winter season.
The bridge will be closed to all pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic until April 30, 2014. Once the structural repairs are completed, the posted weight limit will be increased from the current 3-ton posting to a 15-ton posting. The strengthening of these two spans will once again permit New Jersey Transit buses to use the bridge.
Townsends Inlet Bridge was originally designed in 1939 to only handle a 17.5 ton truck. Over the years, the harsh marine environment has taken its toll on the bridge and is reflected in the advanced stages of deterioration and corrosion of structural members. Through 2009 Federal American Recovery and Re-Investment Act funding, this bridge was cleaned and painted.
The structural rehabilitation work program consists of removing and replacing the open-grid deck and the supporting stringers and floorbeams in the movable span. The girders in both the movable and tollhouse spans are to be strengthened and areas of section losses repaired. The bridge railing in both the movable and tollhouse spans are to be replaced with a standard 4-bar steel railing system. Other minor structural repairs will be made within the movable and tollhouse spans while the bridge is closed to traffic.
The mechanical work program consists of removing and replacing racks and gears that drive the movable span. Additionally, a new back-up motor is to be installed and the span locks are to be replaced. The lead time to fabricate the new racks and gears is approximately 8 months and the reason the work is to be performed during two off-season periods.
While the work on the movable span will be performed in the down position (closed), the Contractor is required to temporarily balance the movable span to permit a bridge opening for marine vessels. The span needs to be nearly balanced at all times to avoid damaging the motors, gears and racks.
The project is partially funded through a state grant in the amount of $1,000,000.
The design engineer for the project is Modjeski and Masters, Inc., of Moorestown, NJ. The construction inspection is being performed by the County and the Cape May County Bridge Commission.
If you have any questions, please call the Cape May County Public Works Department at (609) 465-1035 or by email at countyengineer@co.cape-may.nj.us.