Lovelandtown (Bridge Avenue) Bridge Over Point Pleasant Canal Stuck Down Again

The Lovelandtown (Bridge Avenue) Bridge, Point Pleasant, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

State officials announced Tuesday that they would, once again, be taking the Lovelandtown Bridge, which carries Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant Borough across the Point Pleasant Canal, out of service to marine traffic due to high temperatures.

“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 announcement said. “In the closed position, the bridge has 30 feet of clearance over mean high water. Vessels that can transit safely under the bridge may do so.”

The frequently closures of the bridge have generated anger in the boating community, with some charter captains writing that the inability to pass through the waterway has affected their business. New Jersey officials have never articulated a plan to perform permanent repairs or replacement of the bridge – or parts of it – that would result in the problem being avoided in the future.

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The United States Coast Guard has been notified, and the state Department of Transportation is using waterway dynamic message sign boards to alert boaters. All surrounding bridges will also notify boaters when they call for openings. The latest closure of the bridge to marine traffic is expected to last until 7 a.m. Saturday, July 18 “when conditions are forecasted to improve,” the state agency said.

If conditions improve earlier, the bridge may resume normal operations for marine traffic sooner, it also stated. The closure does not affect vehicular traffic.