RUMSON — Around-the-clock work to repair bearings on the north side of the Oceanic Bridge progressed on schedule and work was shifted to the south side on June 1, Monmouth County officials announced.
Harms Construction Co. of Howell resumed work on the south side of the structure that spans the Navesink River and connects Rumson to Middletown. Harms crews are working 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts to have the work completed by June 12.
The Oceanic Bridge has been closed to all but marine traffic since May 26. For marine traffic, seasonal rules and scheduling are in effect.
The 2,712-foot drawbridge crosses the Navesink River and serves beach, commercial and residential traffic, as well as pedestrian and bicycle travel. It is also a key route for coastal evacuations and emergency vehicles headed to hospitals or providing mutual aid. The bridge has been classified as structurally deficient.
Built in 1939, the Oceanic Bridge has deteriorated due to decades of exposure to saltwater and from accommodating heavier vehicles and traffic volumes than it was designed for.
In 2012, the county completed extensive work to rehabilitate the bridge’s 100-foot, center bascule span, allowing motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to continue use of the bridge.
Monmouth County received notification from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) board of trustees in January that $600,000 in federal funding was available to perform a concept development study for the replacement or rehabilitation of the Oceanic Bridge.
“As the years have gone on, maintaining this bridge has become more costly and difficult,” said Freeholder Thomas Arnone, an NJTPA board member. “This grant will allow us to look to the future and take steps toward building a better bridge, one that will stand up to the extreme coastal storms we’ll face and serve our modern travel needs.”
Plans call for replacement of the Oceanic Bridge within the next 10 years.