New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Route 71 / Shark River Bridge Emergency Repair and Road Diet

When the 90-year-old Shark River Bridge suffered a massive mechanical failure, When the Shark River Bridge in Monmouth County suffered a mechanical failure, significant damage to the steel structure beneath the roadway was discovered. To keep the bridge open, the traffic load needed to be redistributed away from the damaged steel. New Jersey DOT implemented a road diet across the structure, which allowed the department to address several safety issues. Bike lanes that previously ended abruptly were carried across the drawbridge utilizing an innovative bicycle-safe grid, a first-of-its-kind achievement in New Jersey. Through this $150,000 project, Route 71 and the Shark River Bridge saw improved traffic flow, increased safety, and reduced congestion in a busy tourist area.