The bad news for drivers in Brick Township, construction on the Midstreams Bridge continues. The good news, a northbound travel lane of the original span is expected to open up to traffic on Friday.

Ocean County is replacing the bridge which covers Beaver Dam Creek.

The construction project is still expected to be finished in about 12-months.

"Structural issues that came to light during demolition resulted in the complete closure of the bridge for safety reasons," Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety said. "After carefully weighing our options with the contractor we are prepared to open one lane of the span to traffic. This will provide easier access for motorists to the Midstreams area of Brick Township."

While demolishing the bridge to make way for its replacement, the contractor found structural issues that were not anticipated resulting in the closure of the span.

The bridge had been closed to traffic during the demolition phase.

Ocean County and its contractor Mid-Atlantic Construction, reviewed the options available and whether the bridge could be constructed in stages as originally planned allowing for a single lane of traffic at all times.

"We anticipate the lane of traffic to remain open throughout the rest of the project," Kelly said. "This should help ease some of the access issues to the area."

"Brick Township is a growing area in Ocean County and it's important our roads and bridges are well maintained and safe for our residents and visitors," Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Road Department said.

The existing bridge was originally built in 1962.

It was a 131 feet long, 35 feet wide structure consisting of adjacent precast concrete slab beams supported on concrete pile caps founded on timber piles with timber bulk-heading, according to Ocean County Officials.

The new bridge will be a 111 feet long single span structure consisting of adjacent precast/pre-stressed concrete box beams, supported on full height reinforced concrete abutments, founded on cast-in-place steel pipe piles and concrete footings.

The width of the new structure will be 49 feet and include a 40 feet curb-to-curb cart way along with a 6-foot wide sidewalk on the west side.

The proposed bridge rail will be a 4-bar galvanized steel with cast-in-place concrete pylons.

Included in the scope is the extensive installation of steel sheet bulkheading, revised roadway profile and upgraded guide rail.

"The new bridge will be a safer span for both motorists and pedestrians," Kelly said.

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