Oceanic Bridge weight limit continues

RUMSON — The 3-ton weight restriction in place for the Oceanic Bridge spanning the Navesink River between Rumson and Middletown will continue until the fall, according to the Monmouth County Department of Engineering, which is preparing for the rehabilitation of the bridge’s 100-foot center bascule span.

“The data derived from the testing supports the county and municipal decision to keep the bridge in service through the highuse summer season,” county Engineer Joseph Ettore said in a press release. “The county is now preparing plans to repair the open grid deck of the bascule span later this year. We expect the work will be concluded by next spring.”

After meeting with representatives from Rumson and Middletown, Ettore explained that the consensus was to keep the bridge open with the current 3-ton restriction in place until the bascule repairs can begin. The other option was to close the bridge for several weeks, conduct temporary bascule repair work, reopen the bridge with an increased weight limit and then close the bridge once again in the fall for the longer-term repairs.

Fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles may resume use of the Oceanic Bridge going to and from emergencies. These vehicles will be afforded bridge use under a special use permit as they will be required to travel at low, uniform rates of speed on the bridge. Since the initial weight restrictions in October, emergency vehicles had been permitted to use the bridge only when responding to an emergency. On a return trip, they were required to detour through neighboring communities.

The county plans to begin repair work on the bascule span in the fall. The work will require the bridge to be closed until the work is completed. This work will extend the usable life of the 2,700-foot bridge until a determination is made on the type of replacement bridge and how it will be funded.

The sensor technology used to evaluate actual stresses at various points on the bridge span will remain in place to provide the county with ongoing information, the press release states.

The bridge, which carries County Route 8A (Bingham Avenue) over the Navesink River between Rumson and Middletown, had its weight down-posted Oct. 20 from 10 tons to 3 tons, which means large SUVs, pickup trucks, buses and heavier trucks are not permitted to use it. The county has installed signs along approach roads to the bridge to warn people about the 3-ton weight restriction and the detour routes.