The Route 71 bridge connecting Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar is currently undergoing repairs, with the New Jersey Department of Transportation stating that the process may take another month to complete. This closure has caused a decline in revenue for businesses on Main Street, with store owners expressing concerns about reduced foot traffic due to the detour that bypasses their shops.
The mechanical failure on the 92-year-old bridge occurred on March 1, forcing crews to raise the bridge to allow marine traffic to pass through. However, this decision has unintentionally blocked all Main Street foot and vehicular traffic, diverting customers away from downtown and towards the Route 35 bridge. Businesses are feeling the impact of the bridge closure, with slower days of the week seeing a significant decrease in customer traffic.
The NJDOT is working on building replacement parts for the bridge in an effort to expedite the repair process. While their target is to have the bridge open by Memorial Day weekend, detours will remain in place until completion of repairs. Local business owners are hopeful that once the bridge is back in operation, foot traffic and sales will return to pre-closure levels in both Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar.
