The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced on March 20 that the Route 71 Drawbridge over Shark River, connecting Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea, will reopen to vehicles and pedestrians at 2 p.m. following the completion of permanent repairs.
The reopening marks the end of a detour that has been in place since October, when the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic for repair work. The free shuttle bus service between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea will continue operating from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday, March 22.
The Route 71 Bridge, originally built in 1932, experienced a mechanical failure on its South Bridge leaf in June 2025. Interim repairs allowed the bridge to temporarily reopen on August 7 last year before it was closed again in October for permanent repairs. During this period, the bridge was secured in an open position to allow marine traffic to pass, as required by federal law.
Permanent repairs included installing a hydraulic piston system on the South leaf—similar to previous work done on the North leaf—to replace outdated mechanical components. Additional steel repairs were made to both leaves of the bridge to ensure continued reliability.
A capital project is currently being designed by NJDOT to fully replace the Route 71 Bridge. Final design is expected to begin next year, with construction anticipated to start in 2028 and finish by 2031.
NJDOT advises motorists that construction schedules may change due to weather or other factors and encourages checking www.511nj.org for updates.
