By Donald Wittkowski
Built in 1939 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, the Townsends Inlet Bridge has somehow survived hurricanes, countless nor’easters and a series of structural problems that have forced it to shut down from time to time.
But the end of the antiquated span linking Sea Isle City with Avalon along the scenic Ocean Drive may finally be on the horizon amid efforts by Cape May County to find the money to finally replace it with a new bridge.
Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio revealed this week that work on a new bridge could possibly get underway within three to four years, a much faster timetable than previous estimates by the county that it would take seven to 10 years to complete the planning, permitting and construction.
Desiderio noted that the Townsends Inlet Bridge is part of a comprehensive program that would use county, state and federal funding to rehabilitate or replace a network of old bridges operated by the Cape May County Bridge Commission at the Jersey Shore.
“In the coming year, I’ll be able to provide additional updates as this project moves through the planning and engineering phase, but be assured that this project does have the attention it deserves,” Desiderio said in his State of the City address on Tuesday.
Most of the mayor’s address focused on the city’s strong finances, including his announcement there will be no tax increase in 2018 under the municipal budget and that water and sewer rates will remain the same for the fifth year in a row.
But a significant portion of his remarks focused on the Townsends Inlet Bridge, as well as some other transportation-related projects that he acknowledged have caused residents “some angst” for a few years.
Topping the list of trouble spots is the Townsends Inlet Bridge, which has been plagued by a string of shutdowns over the past five years for repairs, maintenance work or related road construction.
Most recently, it was closed from last April to June for emergency repairs after structural cracks and deterioration were discovered in its support piles during an underwater inspection.
Currently, a maintenance project has reduced the bridge to only one lane in each direction. Temporary traffic lights have been installed at end of the bridge to control the flow of cars.
Motorists have enjoyed some modest financial benefits from the project. The $1.50 toll has been lifted during the construction work. But instead of stopping at the toll plaza, motorists now have to endure the inconvenience of having to wait for the traffic lights.
Desiderio reported that the maintenance project will be completed before the start of the peak summer tourism season. Once it is done, the toll will return.
However, the State of the City address included the mayor’s more important revelation that construction may begin within three to four years to replace the Townsends Inlet Bridge altogether.
Greenman-Pedersen Inc., an engineering consultant hired by the Cape May County Bridge Commission, has recommended construction of a new bridge costing an estimated $175 million. The county currently doesn’t have the money for the project. Construction would depend on the combined resources of the county, state and federal governments.
Under a plan proposed by Greenman-Pedersen, traffic traveling between Sea Isle and Avalon would continue to use the existing bridge while a new one would be built, dramatically cutting down on the amount of time for detours during construction.
Virtually all of the old bridge would be demolished once the new one is built under the plan recommended by Greenman-Pedersen. Part of the existing bridge on the Avalon side would be saved as a fishing pier.
Greenman-Pedersen studied seven alternatives for replacing or renovating the bridge. The costs range from $15 million to $20 million to rehabilitate the bridge to between $105 million and $175 million for a new bridge.
All of the projects would require traffic restrictions or lengthy detours during the bridge’s rehabilitation or replacement. The worst-case scenario would call for detours lasting up to five years during construction of a new bridge.
But the plan recommended by Greenman-Pedersen would limit the detours to just six months because the old bridge would stay open most of the time while the new span was under construction.
Meanwhile, local motorists have also had to deal with the inconvenience of the reconstruction of Sea Isle Boulevard, the main entryway into town.
In December, traffic began using a new stretch of the boulevard that is 4.5 feet higher than the old low-lying road. It gives them a safer evacuation route to escape the flooding when severe storms hit the shore.
The next part of the $12.7 million construction project calls for raising the old low-lying lanes on the opposite side of the road by 4.5 feet, too. Desiderio reported that the remaining part of the roadwork is on schedule and should be completed prior to the summer of 2019.
“I know that the construction projects can be aggravating, and I truly appreciate the patience of our residents as they deal with torn-up streets, narrow causeways, bridge closures and detours,” he said. “In the long run, I think most everyone understands that we need to do these things, but we’ll always work to minimize the disruption.”
Desiderio also announced in his State of the City speech that the north end of town is being studied to find ways to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. The north end connects Sea Isle with neighboring Strathmere along the Landis Avenue corridor.
The county and an engineering consultant are expected to hold a public workshop next month to get feedback on options for the north end, Desiderio said.
In conjunction with the county’s efforts, the city administration and the Sea Isle police department will be working on a number of initiatives to improve bicycle safety across town, including new signs and additional bike patrols by police.
Desiderio said bike safety pamphlets will be distributed at local real estate offices, bike shops and the Sea Isle City Welcome Center to reach as many families as possible as part of a public education program.
During the summer vacation season, Sea Isle’s narrow streets become crowded with bikers, which creates a potentially dangerous mix of two-wheel traffic and four-wheel traffic.
“As anyone familiar with our road layout knows, we have a challenge in this regard due to the narrow width of our streets,” Desiderio said.
