Reopening of Townsends Inlet Bridge delayed again
(Image: wfyurasko via Flickr)
The reopening of the Townsends Inlet Bridge, a movable span connecting Sea Isle City and Avalon, has been delayed once again.
The bridge will continue to be locked in the “up” position, allowing boats passage through the navigation portion of the bridge, for at least another week.
Officials initially had hoped that the bridge would be back in service by Memorial Day. But unexpected setbacks have delayed the $4.4 million project to repair the support beams on the bridge’s movable span.
Days before Memorial Day weekend, Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster said that while the bridge’s closure for the unofficial beginning of summer was “disappointing,” authorities must be cautious to “ensure the safe and reliable operation of the bridge.”
The bridge has been closed since Jan. 12, making this the third consecutive winter the span was shuttered. It is one of Cape May County’s structurally deficient bridges.
With the bridge out of commission, drivers have had to use the Garden State Parkway to travel between the two coastal towns. The detour has added up to 10 miles to the usually short journey.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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