Seven Bridges Road to Close This Summer for Bridge Repair

Local residents who use Seven Bridges Road in Little Silver will need to plan an alternate route this summer.

A section of Seven Bridges Road in is scheduled to be closed for at least six months beginning shortly after the July 4th holiday to accommodate the replacement by Monmouth County of the bridge near over Little Silver Creek.

“I would like to thank Monmouth County for moving ahead on this project,” said Mayor Robert C. Neff Jr.  “The road closure will be inconvenient for a period of time, but the county’s effort will provide us with a much safer bridge for many years to come.”

Monmouth County awarded a $2.7 million contract to Lucas Brothers, Inc., of Marlboro to perform the repairs.

“This timber bridge is structurally deficient and must be replaced,” Freeholder Deputy Direct Thomas A. Arnone said. The new bridge will be safer and stronger, with a single, concrete span with 12-foot lanes, 3-foot shoulders and a 6-foot pedestrian walkway on the westerly side, according to Arnone, who said the entire cost is being paid by the state.

are asking for the public’s patience and cooperation with a planned detour route, which will be marked.

The detour will incorporate the installation of temporary traffic lights at the intersections of Branch Avenue and Rumson Road, and Branch Avenue and White Road. Little Silver has asked the county to install the lights during late night hours to prevent further traffic congestion, and to minimize the number of police officers required to direct traffic. Police ask that residents living near the temporary lights bear with the nighttime installation process.

During construction, there will be “Road Closed” signs on Seven Bridges Road where it intersects with Rumson Road, Kings Road and Silverside Avenue. Local traffic may bypass those signs to access their homes, but police are asking motorists to avoid Seven Bridges Road unless absolutely necessary.

Jersey barriers will be set up on Seven Bridges Road, barring traffic entirely, at its intersection with Holly Drive to the north of the project, and adjacent to Point Road School to the south of the project. Residents of Holly Drive will have access to their street from Holly Tree Lane.

County officials plan to reopen the bridge to vehicle traffic between seven and eight months after its closure. At that point, it will have a base coat of asphalt, and a final coat will be put down in spring 2013 when temperatures are warmer. The county will attempt to coordinate this additional work to coincide with the closing of local schools for spring break.