Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge opening up on the hour every summer weekend

A heads up for drivers in Monmouth County, the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (S-32) over the Shrewsbury River will be opening up every hour on the hour from 9:00 am until 7 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays starting this weekend and going until September 3 to allow for passage of marine traffic.

The bridge will open on demand as necessary at other times.

Opening of the bridge on the hour this summer is part of a trial test period run.

"The current schedule provides that the bridge open for marine traffic on the hour and half hour which causes significant delays for vehicles traveling on the bridge," Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering said. "The County has requested an alternative schedule to lessen the impact on the public traveling over the bridge and the surrounding communities."

The Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering has placed a requested that the U.S. Coast Guard consider an alternative schedule in attempt to balance the seasonally high volume of roadway traffic during peak hours with the needs of marine traffic, according to MC Government Officials.

"The County's Division of Engineering will be monitoring the test schedule very closely and hopes that the expected positive impact of this schedule change will lead to a permanent change of the current regulations," Arnone said.

Prior to this pilot project, the bridge opened on the hour and half hour from May 15 through Sept. 30 as per Code of Federal Regulations (33 CFR 117.755).

The Coast Guard will make a final decision on the future bridge marine opening schedule based on data collected during the test period as well as public comments, according to MC officials.

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