For Immediate
Release:
November 5, 2021
County breaks
ground for
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge
SEA BRIGHT, NJ – Monmouth County, in cooperation with the North
Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) broke ground for the construction
of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (S-32).
“We are thrilled to break ground today for the Rumson-Sea
Bright Bridge,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “I want to thank Rumson
Mayor Joseph K. Hemphill and Sea Bright Mayor Brian P. Kelly along with our partners
at NJTPA, NJDOT and FHWA who helped make this vital construction project a
reality.”
“Our groundbreaking this morning was a great milestone in
getting our new bridge construction started. We can’t thank the Monmouth County
Commissioners and County Engineer Joseph Ettore and his engineering team enough
for their dedication to this project,” said Rumson Mayor Joseph K. Hemphill. “Our
town is lucky to be in this County. As Commissioner Arnone said, ‘This County
and its towns have a great working relationship. Because of that, we get things
done.’ I want to thank the County for our new bridge.”
“Sea Bright is thankful and excited for the groundbreaking
of the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. The
County has facilitated and planned carefully for this project for close to a
decade and we know the construction phase will be safe and successful,” said Sea
Bright Mayor Brian P. Kelly. “We are also very happy the current bridge will remain
operational while the new bridge to the South is being constructed.”
“Our partners from NJTPA, NJDOT and FHWA were instrumental in
helping the County secure federal funding for this project,” said Director Arnone.
“Because of the secured federal funding, Monmouth County anticipates only covering
the non-participating items on this project at the cost of $58,200.00 which is
a huge saving to our taxpayers while providing an essential infrastructure improvement
project.”
“Putting federal dollars to work on critical, locally-led
projects is one of our highest priorities for the region,” said NJTPA Deputy
Executive Director David Behrend. “The Rumson-Sea Bright bridge is a
perfect example of this.”
The County has received federal funding to cover the construction
($107.5 million), construction inspection and administration ($7.2 million),
and construction support services ($5.74 million), as well as the previous
design, engineering, and permitting costs ($10.9 million) for a total of over $130
million in federal grants.
The project will be constructed in stages and vehicular traffic
along County Route 520 (Rumson Road will be maintained at all times. Marine
traffic will also be maintained with no planned closures of the navigational channel.
Vehicular traffic will use the existing bridge while the new bridge is under construction.
When the new bridge is ready, traffic will be shifted to the new bridge and the
old bridge will be demolished. The anticipated date of completion will be early
2025.
Monmouth County awarded the construction contract to Richard
E. Pierson Construction Co., Inc, of Pilesgrove, New Jersey on May 27, 2021, in
the amount of $107,538,389.20.
For more information about the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge
project, visit https://www.rumsonseabrightbridge.com/.
SEA BRIGHT, NJ- Monmouth County, in cooperation with the North Jersey
Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) broke ground for the construction
of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (S-32).
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