Bridge to Stone Harbor to Close for Two Days

The Ocean Drive Bridge over Great Channel, which connects Middle Township to the south end of Stone Harbor, will be closed this Tuesday and Wednesday for construction to complete final repairs to the bascule span. During construction hours, motorists wishing to use Ocean Drive (CR 619) and cross over the bridge will be detoured around the work zone. The bridge and roadway are being closed in order to provide access to install masonry bearing plates under the west bascule girder. The repair work is expected to be completed by Thursday, Feb. 15, at which time normal traffic patterns will resume, according to a news release. Motorists wishing to travel north on Ocean Drive and access the south end of Stone Harbor will detour west onto US Route 147 to the Route 9 intersection. They will then be directed north along Route 9 to Stone Harbor Boulevard (CR 657), where they will be directed east along Stone Harbor Boulevard back to Third Avenue (CR 619). Motorists traveling south on Third Avenue (CR 619) and wishing to continue heading south to US Route 147 will be directed west at the 96th Street intersection onto Stone Harbor Boulevard (CR 657). They will travel west on Stone Harbor Boulevard to the Route 9 intersection and then be directed south on Route 9 to the intersection of Indian Trail Road (CR 618), where they will be directed east onto US Route 147. Local traffic will be permitted approaching the Great Channel Bridge. However, no traffic will be permitted to cross the bridge during the periods of active construction.