Mathis Bridge closure slated for Nov. 1
The frozen Barnegat Bay and the Mathis Bridge in the background as seen from Seaside Park on Jan. 7
The closure of the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge, the causeway that connects Toms River with the Barnegat Bay Island, is set to begin on November 1, officials said.
Like last fall, crews will shift one lane of eastbound traffic onto Route 37 westbound to utilize the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge.
Traffic will be shift back onto Route 37 eastbound after crossing the Tunney Bridge near Sunset Drive on Pelican Island. In addition, the Mathis Bridge will be closed to marine traffic between Dec. 1 and March 15, 2017.
Announced last year, the construction work involves a deck replacement, safety improvements, and mechanical and electrical work on the span, which was built in 1950. The bridge is older than the adjacent westbound Tunney Bridge.
Construction will occur between Nov. 1 and April 30 through 2018. All three lanes on each bridge will be open to traffic between May 15 and Sept. 15.
The state anticipates that the project will cost approximately $74 million, with funding from the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) under the auspices of the National Highway Performance Program.
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