Demolition begings on US 9 Beesley's Point Bridge in NJ

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/beesleys-point-bridge-demolition-begins-on-northern-side/article_72c415b2-e258-11e2-a136-0019bb2963f4.html

The bridge has been closed for several years.  The bridge was privately owned and had it's own drawbridge and toll booth, which was actually pricier than the parallel Garden State Parkway.  At the time of its closing, the Beesleys Point Bridge had a toll of $1 each way; the GSP was 75 cents each way.

The owner of the bridge wasn't able to finance the tens of millions of dollars in repairs needed for the bridge.  Long story short - Cape May County eventually purchased the bridge, and with the nearby fixed-span GSP bridge right there, decided to do away with the bridge.  As noted in the article, the NJ Turnpike Authority is actually the agency knocking down the bridge.

A portion of this former US 9 bridge will remain for fishing.

[SteveG1988]

Must be scary being on the barge

[Roadsguy]

If it was privately owned, how'd US 9 get signed along it?

Also, has NJDOT updated its route alignment for US 9 yet? Wasn't it always on the bridge even as it was closed, with the GSP bridge being a permanent detour?

[Alps]

If it was privately owned, how'd US 9 get signed along it?

Also, has NJDOT updated its route alignment for US 9 yet? Wasn't it always on the bridge even as it was closed, with the GSP bridge being a permanent detour?

Straight Line Diagrams still date to 2011, so no record of US 9 being moved, although signage suggests it still hasn't at this time. My understanding is that the existing road will be turned over to the county once the bridge is demolished, as opposed to just doing it now. As for 9 being on a private bridge, it wouldn't be the first time a highway used a private facility. Ferries, for example.

[SteveG1988]

Old Post is Old.

There is very little left of the span now, the bascule section was still up in March when these photos were taken by a contractor.

https://wagman.com/projects/heavy-civil/Garden-State-Parkway-over-Great-Egg-Harbor-Bay.asp

[AlexandriaVA]

That photo has an interesting quality to it. A little post-apocalyptic.

[dgolub]

So, how much longer will they be routing US 9 across the bridge that doesn't exist?

[Roadrunner75]

The budget could only afford this sign for now:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2636199,-74.6483711,3a,66.8y,79.64h,91.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su1_cEohzCY66gH6PwGEvSQ!2e0?force=lite

Besides, Route 9 is still usable for hovercraft and most of the way for vehicles with monster truck tires.

[SteveG1988]

The budget could only afford this sign for now:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2636199,-74.6483711,3a,66.8y,79.64h,91.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su1_cEohzCY66gH6PwGEvSQ!2e0?force=lite

Besides, Route 9 is still usable for hovercraft and most of the way for vehicles with monster truck tires.

Just make sure the hovercraft is properly de-eeled

[dgolub]

The budget could only afford this sign for now:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2636199,-74.6483711,3a,66.8y,79.64h,91.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su1_cEohzCY66gH6PwGEvSQ!2e0?force=lite

Besides, Route 9 is still usable for hovercraft and most of the way for vehicles with monster truck tires.

Yep, that's what they had when I was through there back in October.

[SteveG1988]

Bridge fell victim to half assed repairs.

[DeaconG]

Old Post is Old.

There is very little left of the span now, the bascule section was still up in March when these photos were taken by a contractor.

https://wagman.com/projects/heavy-civil/Garden-State-Parkway-over-Great-Egg-Harbor-Bay.asp

That's a rather apocalyptic picture there...maybe they should leave the bascule piers there as a warning to others?

[SteveG1988]