Toll of Commuting: New Rumson-Sea Bright bridge aims to ease traffic in Monmouth County
The new Rumson-Sea Bright bridge opened in August, replacing a 75-year-old structure.
More Stories
Commuters in Monmouth County know the frustration of waiting for drawbridges, and officials say more projects are on the way.
The new Rumson-Sea Bright bridge opened in August, replacing a 75-year-old structure. The bridge is wider and longer, with modern controls and backups for key functions. Operators say it takes about eight minutes to open and close the span, and even in the offseason, it stays busy with fishermen and construction barges passing through.
"The commute with the surrounding towns, and then Manhattan, going to Sandy Hook, obviously our tourism industry. It's a very, very heavily-trafficked bridge," said County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone.
Arnone added that more major projects are coming, including the Oceanic Bridge, which will cost about $200 million, and the Glimmer Glass Bridge in Manasquan. "Two or three miles away from here, the Oceanic Bridge will roughly be about a $200 million bridge — it'll be the highest-cost bridge that Monmouth County has ever undertaken," he said.
Further south, the Route 71 bridge between Belmar and Avon is closed for repairs until February. The DOT says its replacement will open in 2031. Arnone noted the county will help market businesses affected by construction and urged the state to provide financial support. "The county will be there to help market their business and do anything we can do. More importantly, I think the state is going to have to step up financially to support the impactful side of this to those businesses," he said.
