Construction to Alter Night Traffic on Stone Harbor Boulevard

STONE HARBOR – The 96th Street Bridge, along Stone Harbor Boulevard, leading into Stone Harbor, will be undergoing emergency repairs to the bascule span (movable span) during nighttime hours beginning June 8.
According to a release, work will proceed Monday through Thursday nights, between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Due to the nature of the work, the bridge cannot remain open as work proceeds. Thru traffic wishing to access Stone Harbor via Stone Harbor Boulevard will be detoured during these work times, with access to Stone Harbor directed to Avalon Boulevard.
Local traffic wishing to access businesses and residences up to the west side of the bridge will be permitted to proceed along Stone Harbor Boulevard. The bridge will reopen at 6 a.m. each workday and remain open until 8 p.m. that night. There are no anticipated closures on Fridays through Sundays during the construction phase. The contractor anticipates that the emergency work will be completed by June 25 barring any unforeseen complications.
Traffic heading north on the Garden State Parkway wishing to access Stone Harbor at Exit 10 will be redirected to proceed north on the Parkway to exit 13 and proceed east on Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) to Ocean Drive (C.R. 619). Traffic will then be directed south along Ocean Drive to Stone Harbor.
Traffic traveling south on the parkway will be directed to take exit 13 onto Avalon Boulevard, as well. Traffic heading east on Court House South Dennis Road (C.R. 657) will be advised to either take Route 9 north to Avalon Boulevard or to take Exit 10 north onto the Garden State Parkway to Avalon Boulevard. Stone Harbor traffic wishing to head west along Stone Harbor Boulevard will be directed north along Third Avenue /Ocean Drive (C.R. 619) and west along Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) to the Garden State Parkway.
The proposed work was prompted by the deflection of the southwest bascule girder cover plate due to pack rust build-up. Analysis has revealed that the bridge capacity was not substantially impacted. However, the cover plate is situated at a critical location over the trunnion shaft which has prompted the initial need for repairs. Similar repairs to the remaining three bascule girder/ trunnion locations will also occur during this emergency work phase, as these locations have experienced similar, but less severe deterioration.
Through the process of designing the bascule girder repair, significant emerging deterioration of several stringers, gusset plates, diagonal bracing floor members, and floor beams was observed.
In addition, Floor Beam 3 will be rehabilitated by the addition of sistering plates and angles to address small cracks that had developed in the beam about four years ago. The migration of those cracks has been mitigated through the drilling of arresting holes; however, the planned repair is intended to eliminate the occurrence of further crack migration by strengthening the member.
The continued deterioration of some steel members has compromised the steel and has accelerated the need to make these interim repairs. As a result, this emergency contract will also include interim repairs to selected steel framing members in addition to the bascule girder repairs.
Over the past two years, the county has taken proactive steps to improve the electrical operations of the bridge as well as reduce impact conditions on the nearly 80-year-old bascule span. These measures have included attempts to reduce the speed of vehicles approaching from the west through stepped-up speed enforcement, the addition of radar feedback signs, and greater pedestrian awareness.
Regrettably, these measures have resulted in only marginal decreases in the traveling speeds. Therefore, the county will be installing (3) raised pavement speed tables along Stone Harbor Boulevard just west of the bridge to reduce traffic speeds. The incorporation of the speed tables will reduce impacts and vibrations onto the bridge and promote enhanced pedestrian safety. The construction of the speed tables will proceed during the scheduled bridge closures in June to reduce the inconvenience to the traveling public.