The Middle Thorofare Bridge, a vital link between Wildwood Crest and Diamond Beach, is back in action! After a tense few days where the drawbridge was stuck upright, a team of dedicated engineers pulled off a miraculous repair job. What was initially expected to take months was completed in hours, thanks to a stroke of luck and some quick thinking.
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Ken Lare, Cape May County Bridge Commission Director, highlighted the incredible effort that went into this swift repair. A temporary solution involving a smaller auxiliary motor allowed the bridge to reopen to traffic on Wednesday morning. While the primary motor still needs rebuilding, for now, the bridge is operational thanks to this innovative workaround.
Despite the speed of the repair, the long-term plan involves replacing the aging bridge altogether. The ambitious project is estimated to cost $243 million and will require state and federal funding. The new bridge will be a fixed structure with significantly higher vertical clearance, making it more efficient and reliable for both vehicles and marine traffic.
While it’s a relief that the Middle Thorofare Bridge is back in service, the county is already looking ahead to the future. The repair may have been quick, but the ultimate goal is a modern, state-of-the-art replacement that will serve the community for decades to come.