By Stephen Appezzato
RUMSON/MIDDLETOWN – The yearslong plan to replace the Oceanic Bridge, a major throughway connecting Rumson and Middletown, moved forward last week as the Monmouth County Commissioners conditionally awarded a preliminary engineering contract.
“The award is pending the execution of a federal grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, which will be fully funding this phase of the project,” explained Commissioner Director Tom Arnone.
If the grant goes through, Hamilton-based Michael Baker International, an engineering and consulting firm, will receive up to $4.9 million to complete the phase, which includes environmental studies, preparation of design-level mapping and preliminary engineering plans and implementation of a community engagement plan.
This new chapter follows the Local Concept Development (LCD) phase, the first stage under the North Transportation Planning Authority’s Local Capital Project Delivery Program. That phase produced a purpose and needs statement, conceptual alternatives and more, culminating with the selection of a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) – a general bridge plan.
According to Arnone, based on the U.S. Coast Guard’s most recent direction, the proposed bridge’s vertical clearance remains 65 feet above the mean sea level, a sticking point for many parties involved in the process. In the past, local officials, advocacy groups and even Gov. Phil Murphy challenged the U.S. Coast Guard, which said it required a fixed bridge with at least 65 feet of clearance above mean high water. Those groups advocated for a lower height that would accommodate the vast majority of vessels sailing the Navesink; some supported building another drawbridge.
However, Arnone noted the preliminary engineering phase “will include opportunities for public comment regarding all aspects of the proposed project.”
According to Michael Baker International’s technical proposal, a community engagement plan within the project phase will offer three local officials meetings, three community stakeholder meetings, three public information meetings and an environmental assessment public hearing, among other outreach strategies. The project’s website, which contains relevant documents and content available to the public, will also be updated during the process.
The Oceanic Bridge was originally built in 1939. According to the project website, its current overall condition is “critical,” with a “serious” superstructure, a “fair” deck and a “poor” substructure.
The throughway was deemed “structurally deficient, functionally obsolete and is at the end of its service life” – revelations which were apparent across multiple malfunctions this summer when the drawbridge was stuck open.
In a statement from the Borough of Rumson, a key stakeholder, officials said they were excited to continue working alongside Monmouth County’s engineering team “on another long-standing project that will enhance the transportation and safety of the residents of Rumson and the general traveling public.”
“We have always enjoyed strong communication and working relationships with Monmouth County’s Engineering Team throughout the construction of the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, seeing first hand their willingness to listen to and collaborate with the community and borough officials on many topics. We look forward to continuing these efforts with the Oceanic Bridge project in the future,” the statement concluded.
According to the technical proposal, the Oceanic Bridge’s preliminary engineering phase is expected to begin Oct. 22 and conclude in June 2027. Once completed, the project’s final design and right-of-way acquisition phase will begin, followed by the final construction phase.
Over the decades Michael Baker International has worked on many bridges and infrastructure projects throughout the region, including the Local Concept Development phase for the Ocean Bridge, the Route 35 Shark River Bridge Replacement project and the ongoing Glim- mer Glass Bridge replacement.
The article originally appeared in the October 3 – October 9, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
