Route 71 Bridge over Shark River closed for emergency repairs – Star News Group

BELMAR — The Route 71 bridge over Shark River connecting Belmar and Avon-By-The-Sea was closed on Friday night for emergency repairs. According to a traffic advisory release from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the bridge experienced a mechanical failure on the South Bridge leaf. 

According to the release, the repairs will require a large crane to lift the South leaf of the bridge which is expected to take place over the weekend. 

Last March, the bridge experienced a similar mechanical malfunction to its North bridge leaf that left the bridge non-operational and closed to vehicular traffic past Memorial Day Weekend. According to the traffic advisory, the North bridge leaf that was repaired last year is operational.

The release states, “NJDOT’s…