Bridge Closures In Place As Extreme Heat Bakes Jersey Shore

POINT PLEASANT and POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Boaters will be contending with bridge closures on Wednesday as extreme heat returns to the area, officials said.

NJ Transit's train drawbridge over the Manasquan River will remain in the down position from noon until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Point Pleasant Beach officials said.

In addition, the Loveland Town Bridge over the Point Pleasant Canal has been in the down position since Tuesday due to the effects of the extreme heat, the state Department of Transportation said.

That bridge, which allows vehicles to pass back and forthe between Point Pleasant and Bay Head, is anticipated to remain in the down position until 7 a.m. on Saturday, the NJDOT said.

It remains open to vehicles, the NJDOT said.

"The excessive heat has caused the expansion of some components on the bridge, which prohibits the bridge from opening to allow marine traffic to pass," the NJDOT said.

In the closed position, the bridge has 30 feet of clearance over mean high water, and boats that can travel safely under the bridge can do so, the NJDOT said.

If the heat disspates sooner, the canal bridge will return to operations sooner, the NJDOT said.

Both bridges were closed during the July 4th weekend as the heat index rose above 110 degrees at the Jersey Shore, causing frustration in particular for boaters who pass through the NJ Transit bridge while heading out of Manasquan Inlet. The closure forced many to wait until much later in the day to return to port.

The bridge, which was built in 1911, carries a single non‐electrified track and a maintenance walkway, according to NJ Transit, which has plans in the works to replace the bridge.

The railroad bridge closure drew criticism from state Sen. James Holzapfel of the 10th District, which includes Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach.

"The closure of the railroad bridge over the Manasquan River during one of the busiest boating weekends of the summer stranded countless boaters all because NJ Transit failed to have an adequate contingency plan and provide timely notice,
he said. "While no one can control the weather, extreme heat is a known challenge for New Jersey Transit, and that's exactly why the agency should have been prepared before problems arose. Instead, boaters were left waiting for hours and valuable revenue was lost during one of the most important weekends of the year. Our Shore communities deserve an agency that plans ahead, communicates clearly, and does everything possible to minimize these avoidable disruptions."