Mantoloking Bridge Structurally Sound, But Some Repairs Needed
During Sandy, bridge was thought to have been taken out
The Mantoloking Bridge will live to see traffic once again.
The county-owned bridge, which crosses Barnegat Bay and connects Brick with Mantoloking, was the subject of initial reports during Hurricane Sandy's landfall that indicated it suffered heavy damage, but tests have shown it survived and remains structurally sound.
"The structure of the bridge has not been compromised," said Brick Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.
Acropolis said engineers have tested the bridge and it is safe to handle all vehicular traffic, including heavy construction vehicles.
Some repairs will be needed, however, including some reconstruction on the bottom of the bridge where it hit land.
At some point over the next week to 10 days, Acropolis said, the bridge will close for approximately four days while those repairs are made.
The issue for motorists, however, is that Herbert Street in Mantoloking – where the bridge emptied out on the barrier island side – as well as Route 35 no longer exist as they did before the storm struck.
Acropolis said crews are now preparing the area on the east side of the bridge for a paved road to be built.
A gravel road was constructed where Route 35 was once located since the state highway was ripped up when the ocean met the bay and formed a new inlet near the bridge's eastern base.
Femaascam
8:34 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
can we drive over it yet?
SoylentGreen
11:31 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
No, you can't. But emergency and repair crews can.
Daniel Nee
1:51 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Vehicles can physically drive over the bridge, but only work crews, emergency vehicles, etc. are allowed in. It's a bit of a maze on the other side since the roads haven't been fully rebuilt yet.
WMS826
10:25 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
I'm surprised someone has not asked if we know about their house yet or if we know they have power. Can we please stop doing that.
MrSaturdayNightSpecial
10:47 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
I think its about time they replace the mathis and tunney bridges with a new fixed span like they did on 35 in belmar/neptune city
Mike
3:55 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Right, because these communities have so much extra money right now, and nothing important to spend it on.
bayboat
8:55 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Why?
jon
6:20 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
The Tunney Bridge is a fixed span bridge.
Tommy Mac
1:35 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
It would be really nice-after hearing so much bad news and seeing such devastation in all of the media-to see some pictures of the progress that is being made to restore our town.
Jeremy D420
1:44 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
any new pics of the east base?
Daniel Nee
1:53 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
The photo that accompanies this story was taken yesterday. I believe there are a couple more floating around that were taken on the ground on the other side that we will post in an upcoming story.
Denise Di Stephan
1:58 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Jeremy: please see photos here http://patch.com/A-z7sc
Jason
4:03 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
I don't have any pictures but I've been working over there and there is a lot of progress being made. Those dump trucks constantly going down Mantoloking Rd. are bringing in supplies to fix the road sidwalks and curbing. And they're bringing out all the debris from the devastation sandy caused. There is so much work to do. We are getting it done.
citizen
2:24 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
I'm appreciative of those trucks hauling material to and from the island, but as they pass my home( sometimes at higher speeds than necessary) on Mantoloking Rd the whole house shakes.
Donald Fagen
5:11 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
"I'm appreciative of those trucks hauling material to and from the island, but as they pass my home( sometimes at higher speeds than necessary) on Mantoloking Rd the whole house shakes."
#youjustmasteredbeingpassiveaggressive
Kathy Bottone
8:11 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
I am so very happy that the bridge is okay...I know it is weird to have a favorite bridge but I do and it is the Mantoloking Bridge. I loved driving over it heading west into Brick as the sun was setting. It is just the most beautiful sight with that bright orange sun sinking down behind the land, the purply pink sky and the water still glimmering in the fading light. When I had a tough day at work, I would head home over that bridge and drive along 35 to let the peace and beauty of the water calm me. I would hate it if that was gone from my life and I am so happy that the bridge survived. Thank you to all the workers such as Jason above who are working to get the barrier islands back for us. I am grateful.
Katie
9:24 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Kathy,
You couldn't have said it better! I LOVE the Mantoloking Bridge...my most favorite by far. Living in Eagle Point off Mantoloking Rd, i traveled over it sometimes 4x per day. The sun, the boats, the drawbridge...my 3 yr old daughter is especially bummed and each day says "why we going this way?" when I make the right towards Rt. 70. The simplicty and peacefulness of the bridge is so calming. Cannot wait to see that area restored. I am grateful for all those who are working day and night to get us back to normal
Tommy Mac
10:14 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
What she(s) said X2.
I love my town, and yeah, the bridge too.
The car museum guts me, though. Very Sorry to hear that. All of the losses we've had...geez
...how this stuff was taken for granted before.... It's become a bit symbolic. I'm real glad it's OK.
Karen Wall
12:18 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Add me to the sentiments here. I lived a mile from the Mantoloking Bridge -- the little old quaint one that was so badly in need of replacing forever -- for 8 years. Like Kathy said, driving over that bridge was a pretty sight. I left Jersey for a time, but when I came back driving over that bridge again made me feel at home like few things had.
citizen
9:59 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
I received your msg about being passive aggressive. I'm gonna take that as a compliment. Who are you to pass judgement upon anyone? Perhaps I've dropped the passive and became just plain aggressive!
brick mom 61
9:35 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
When I was little and we came to spend the summer in Lavallette, driving over the Mantoloking Bridge gave us the first glimpse of the ocean. Now living in Brick full time, it still is a sight when you see that blue water, rough or calm. I can't believe it made it through as good as it did. Hats off to the engineers and construction company that designed and built it!
peggy
9:42 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
This pass summer I took my grandkids to a boat museum and a antique car museumwas also nestled back behind that bridge, any word on them?
Kathy Bottone
9:48 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
I saw an article in APP today that the car museum was pretty much destroyed. They lost their library and a lot of the cars were damaged. They had tried to protect it but the storm was too much. I don't know about the boat museum.
Tommy Mac
10:19 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Thank you to all of the hard working people making the repairs happen!!!
If we all stick together we'll do okay.
Jersey Strong!
Dawn Gajewski
10:48 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
That bridge is my favorite part of growing up in brick! Driving over it seeing the beautiful homes, people out for the day in their boats, crabbing& fishing...there was always something special about it& there always will be.
Thank you to all those workers doing all these repairs & I'm so so sorry for all of you who have suffered devastating loss from the storm.
Kathy Bottone
11:21 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Well I am glad to know that I'm not the only one who has a favorite bridge! When they replaced the old one I was worried the new one wouldn't be right. But they made it even better & thank goodness even stronger...Jersey Strong!
Daniel Nee
1:52 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
The fishing pier and park are beautiful as well, and it looks like they survived the storm nicely. Some cleanup is needed, but I think the bridge and its surrounding area will be as nice as ever!
Kathy Bottone
6:41 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Thanks for that update, Dan...not being able to see it for myself and only seeing the pictures, it is hard to believe it will ever be as beautful as it was. The park was coming along so nicely, too. I am so relieved that the bridge and park will be ok. After the storm, the first picture I saw was of the bridge and it seemed to symbolize all the destruction and horror. I know it may seem foolish to some to worry so much about a bridge when so many homes were destroyed, but to me, if the bridge can survive, then the rest of the area will too.
type writer
7:53 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
The new bridge is very nice . The only exception are the side rails are much wider and higher than the old ones were. They obstruct the side view of the bay when you are looking out your car windows. The one side is more obstructed than the other. I don't know why. The same with the rt 35 bridge from Brielle to Pt Pleasant. They made the new rails much wider and higher than the old ones. same obstruction. Completely ruins the view of the River. Now the design of the new Freedom bridge on Rt70 from Brick into Brielle is Perfect. Next time you travel over the 3 bridges compare the side views and you will see what I am talking about.
Mike Maino
4:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Dan:
Was up 11/11 & got the east end of the bridge. Looks like things are looking a lot better. I'll add a photo to this story.
Mike
jack cee
5:07 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Gas company is at 38% fixed..Home owners will be able to drive to there homes and stay until 4pm.You must register at boro hall.The police will put a special sticker on your car to be checked at check points.If your not a home owner don't even think about trying to go there.
Kathy Bottone
5:19 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Does anyone have an answer to this? I have been reading that Brick and Mantoloking...both hard hit areas... will be allowing increased access to the barrier island, including allowing 1-2 cars per home, contractors, etc...pretty much free access so residents can winterize their homes. Meanwhile Toms River is still allowing only on certain days, one car per home and is warning residents traffic will be tough going over the Seaside bridge. Not all parts of TR are as hard hit as Mantoloking and Brick and residents of Normandy, right next to Brick Normandy, are being forced to take the Seaside Bridge when they are closer to Mantoloking. Isn't there some kind of working agreement between the towns? Other than the Seasides and Lavalette, the rest of the barrier island belongs to those 2 towns. Are they working together to help their residents or is there some kind of issue between them? I am honestly just wondering, not wanting to start a political issue. My sister owns a house in TR Normandy and has been frustrated at every turn with dealing with the town. They have been allowed in just once and will be able to go in again tomorrow. They live up north so the travel time is an issue...the first time they found out they could get in they found out at 10 the night before and that is with them checking the website constantly! So...anyone?
Tommy Mac
9:26 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Thanks to Mike for putting up the pic!
Robert
12:36 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Kathy they need to keep security very tight i now its frustrating but watching the past week in Brick the people whom came to there homes were also walking all over making security difficult and seriously watched one person not pay attention and fall in lagoon. So i beleive the way Brick is doing there town is safer and more secure. The police and Dpw are doing a wonderful job the cleanup is unbeleivable.
Kathy Bottone
6:32 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Robert, I agree, I think Brick IS doing a safer and mre secure job...I want Toms River to do just as good a job and don't understand why the towns don't seem to be working together out there. Brick taxpayers seem to be getting better communications and conditions to work on their homes than Toms River taxpayers. I grew up and worked all my life in Brick, although I am not a resident now, and I am very impressed with how Brick is handling everything. It is Toms River's handling of the situation that I am questioning.
J. Dixon
10:51 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
These photos are heartbreaking! I LOVE the ride over the Mantoloking bridge from Brick into Mantoloking; especially in the winter when it's less crowded....driving route 35 into Point Pleasant.....it's so tranquil. I cannot imagine what residents of the barrier island are going through - - my heart goes out to them.
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7:21 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
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