The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has awarded a construction contract for the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge on county Route 520 (Rumson Road) over the Shrewsbury River in Rumson and Sea Bright.
The commissioners took the action during a meeting on May 27 in Freehold Borough, according to a press release from the county.
“Due to the age of the bridge, it has deteriorated over time and routine maintenance can no longer address the deficiencies,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, who is the liaison to the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering.
“Monmouth County, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and New Jersey Department of Transportation, will build the new bridge along the south side of the existing bridge so we will be able to keep this vital crossing over the Shrewsbury River operational for vehicular and marine traffic throughout the construction period,” Arnone said.
Construction will address the bridge replacement and improvements to the approaching road intersections to maintain a critical transportation connection between Rumson and Sea Bright, as well as a coastal evacuation route for Sea Bright, according to the press release.
Monmouth County received 10 bids and awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Richard E. Pierson Construction Co. Inc., of Pilesgrove, in the amount of $107.54 million.
“I am happy to inform our taxpayers this project will be constructed almost entirely with federal funds,” Arnone said. “The county will be receiving all but $47,400 of the total $107.54 million construction cost in federal grants.
“The county will also receive grant funding for inspection, consulting and administrative costs. This funding, plus the funding already received for design and permitting, will add up to more than $131 million in federal funding.
“That is $131 million worth of taxpayers’ dollars we do not have to spend on this very critical bridge replacement project,” Arnone said.