Shark River Bridge reopens in Belmar in time for sun-filled weekend
Work on the bridge - which closed due to mechanical issues- took place during the busiest part of the summer for many of these businesses.
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Shore traffic should be better this weekend, as the heavily traveled Shark River Draw Bridge in Belmar reopened after being closed for nearly two months.
The bridge has been out of commission since June due to mechanical issues. Construction completed Thursday night just in time for a beautiful weekend down the Shore.
The reopening has been long-awaited by locals, tourists, and business owners alike. For weeks, drivers had to detour via Route 35, adding congestion to an already packed roadway and frustrating both commuters and vacationers.
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Dean and Betty Shonts, of Neptune, were among the first to witness the bridge fully operational again.
“This is a very exciting moment, to witness this,” Betty Shonts said.
“We were here the other day and saw them working on it, said Dean Shonts. “It’s been months.”
New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) crews have been working around the clock to repair concrete foundations and replace electrical and mechanical components.
The timing of the construction and closure couldn’t have been worse for local businesses that rely on summer tourism.
Bill McKim, who runs Jersey Shore Whale Watch, said the shutdown hit during his busiest season.
“We just all in the marina wish they would’ve waited until the fall or the winter,” McKim said. “They did it in May, June, July, and August, which is our whole season.”
McKim and other area fishing excursion companies had to cancel or cut trips short, which resulted in millions of dollars in revenue losses collectively.
Restaurants near the bridge, like Klein’s Fish Market, also dealt with the visible eyesore that construction brings.
“The first two or three customers coming in tonight asked to be seated away from the construction,” said owner Ollie Klein. “We had a number of complaints every day. It’s not in our control, but it is an eyesore.”
Although the bridge is now fully operational, the DOT says more repairs are scheduled for October once additional mechanical parts become available.
That work will coincide with the fall school trip season, potentially affecting local tourism again.
“Where will impact us would be if a school system calls and says ‘We want to come right after the kids get off the school bus. And we need to be out on the water from 9:30 a.m. and back by 12:30 p.m. [In order to get] back to the school by 1:30 p.m., so the kids could be released at 2:30 p.m.,’” said McKim.
Marina business owners are hoping communication with the DOT and construction contractor will be better so they’re able to tell schools what they have available.
A full replacement of the Shark River Draw Bridge is currently scheduled for 2028 through 2031.
