Townsend’s Inlet Bridge To Close May 15-16

SEA ISLE CITY – The Townsend’s Inlet Bridge, between Avalon and Sea Isle City, will be closed from 7 p.m., May 15, to 5 a.m., May 16, to remove the concrete construction barrier curb and temporary traffic signal system from the bridge for the summer season. If rain forces the cancellation of the closure of the bridge Tuesday night, May 15, the closure will occur Wednesday night, May 16.
The construction barrier curb was used to separate the bridge railing replacement work zone from the active lane of traffic and the temporary traffic signal system was used to alternate traffic through the one open lane.  When the bridge reopens on Wednesday, May 16, both lanes on the bridge will be open to traffic and the Cape May County Bridge Commission will begin collecting tolls once again in the southbound direction. 
The project involves the removal of the existing, deteriorated steel bridge railing and the installation of a new standard steel 4-bar railing system on most of the bridge. To install the new rail system, a portion of the existing concrete deck in the area of each rail post is removed and new reinforcement steel and concrete is placed.
The project is divided into four phases. With the removal of the concrete construction barrier curb, three of the four phases of the bridge railing replacement will be completed. The fourth phase of construction will begin sometime in late September. 
There will be a few daily lane closings between now and the middle of June to address some minor work items and the placement of steel plates on the movable span. The daily lane closings will typically occur between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., and traffic will be controlled by uniform flaggers.
This work is part of the county’s $2,678,715 construction contract awarded by the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders to Thomas Barry Marine Construction, Inc., South Dennis, Sept. 12, 2017. The construction operations are being overseen by Remington & Vernick Engineers, Haddonfield.
Questions may be directed to the Cape May County Public Works Department at (609) 465-1035.