Route 37 Mathis Bridge Closure, Lane Shift to Restart Nov. 1

The J. Stanley Tunney and Thomas A. Mathis bridges. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The state Department of Transportation will resume a closure of the Thomas A. Mathis bridge, which carries traffic eastbound from Toms River to Seaside Heights, in November, officials said.

The Nov. 1 closure means traffic in both directions on Route 37 will traverse the J. Stanley Tunney bridge, Seaside Park Mayor Robert W. Matthies said Thursday.

The Mathis drawbridge, built in 1950, is undergoing a significant rehabilitation project. The Tunney bridge, completed in 1972, is a fixed-span bridge that does not open for boat traffic.

---

Get Daily Island News Updates Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

This summer, the Mathis bridge became the object of criticism after a barricade affixed to the span failed after the bridge opened on several occasions, causing traffic backups. As the span is rehabilitated, the drawbridge will not open for marine traffic. Bridge openings will not be available from Dec. 1, 2016 through March 30, 2017.

The Mathis bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic April 30, 2017.

Project Background

The project is expected to cost about $79 million, and will rehabilitate the Mathis bridge in numerous ways. The project includes:

• The replacement of the deck in the moveable span, flanking spans and the approach spans.
• Safety improvements to the barrier and warning gates and railings.
• Substructure and structural steel repairs.
• Bearing replacement and some painting.
• Mechanical and electrical rehabilitation of the machinery and controls.

The Mathis Bridge deck width will be improved to provide three ten-foot wide lanes. According to state officials, the middle lane of the bridge is currently 10 feet wide, but the two outer lanes are only nine feet wide. Existing pedestrian access on the north sidewalk of Tunney Bridge will not be changed during the temporary traffic shift, the DOT said. [/box]