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Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Construction Travel Advisory

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge construction
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

As the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge is in its construction phase, Monmouth County officials issue weekly traffic advisories contingent upon cooperative weather.

Here’s the advisory for this week:

Work continued on the bridge today, Tuesday, and will continue through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Though, with the hazardous weather warning and rain expected in the next couple of days, area residents should expect possible changes to the original schedule, setting activity surrounding the bridge area back and altering this week’s traffic advisory. Area residents are also asked to be cognizant of construction vehicles entering and exiting work areas.

Expect the following …

The navigational channel reduction is still in effect. This means …

  • The navigational channel width has been reduced from 75 to 65 feet. The reduction is expected to remain in effect until the fall of 2023.
  • Work activity will continue in the water south of the bridge on both sides of the river.

Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be a closure of the eastbound shoulder on Rumson Road and painting of new travel lanes. This means ….

  • The shoulder will be closed for sidewalk island construction at Rumson Road and Old Rumson Road. There may be traffic disruption due to the work that may continue into Wednesday due to inclement weather on Tuesday.
  • Construction crews will be painting new travel lanes on Rumson Road. Alternating traffic will be happening for the duration of the project which could lead to some traffic delays.

On or about Wednesday, there will be a new traffic pattern on Rumson Road. The roadway alignment in Rumson between Ward Avenue is scheduled to be shifted to the north. This means …

  • Roadway users should be aware of lane shifts and possible alternating traffic during the switch to the new pattern.
  • Flaggers may assist with brief traffic interruptions and uniformed police will provide traffic control.
  • The sidewalk on the south side of the bridge will be closed until further notice; signage will direct pedestrians where to cross the bridge.

The delivery of four bridge piles anticipated for Tuesday may be extended due to the inclement weather. This means …

  • Uniformed police will assist with traffic control during the deliveries.
  • Deliveries are scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to avoid school drop off and pick up times. If the schedule changes based on field conditions, delivery may occur after 3:30 p.m.
  • For safe passage of all, the traffic delivery pattern involves temporary disruption of vehicle and pedestrian movement over the bridge and may affect traffic flow on Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright and Rumson Road in Rumson.
    • During staging of the pile deliveries, vehicle traffic across the bridge will be alternated in the westbound lane and the eastbound sidewalk will be closed.
    • During lifting and moving of the bridge pile to the trestle in the river, both travel lanes and sidewalks will be closed for approximately 10 minutes.
  • With each delivery, vehicles and pedestrians may expect temporary lane and sidewalk closures as noted above.
  • Bridge openings for marine traffic will not be affected by the pile deliveries.