The current deck repair on the causeway bridge is on track to be finished by May 1, 2010 (before the vacation season). The final phase of the repair includes a new surface overlay to begin in mid-March.
The goal is to have all the necessary design plans and environmental documents complete in order to begin construction on the project by the end of 2012.
The first phase of the project is not the additional new bridge but all the road work required in Ship Bottom and Stafford Township. In Ship Bottom, drainage improvements are needed as well as a redesigned circle. In Stafford Township, the Marsha Drive-Rt. 72 intersection has to be re-designed.
The second phase of the project will be the new main bridge to LBI then the repair of the three connecting bridges part of the LBI Causeway system of bridges.
The new bridge will be similar in appearance and built 12 feet to the south of the existing LBI Bridge. The new bridge will have two eastbound traffic lanes and the old bridge will have two westbound traffic lanes. The same amount of traffic lanes will be flowing on and off Long Beach Island.
If you ever cycled or walked across the current bridge system, it may leave a lot to be desired. It will be a pleasure when the bridge project is completed with the planned 12-13 foot shoulders on the big bridges, the five-foot wide bike lanes on the smaller connecting bridges, and the continuous sidewalk.
