STRATHMERE — Efforts to replace the Corsons Inlet and Townsends Inlet bridges is nearing the top of the span and soon will be heading down the other side.
Bruce Riegel of Hardesty & Hanover presented plans for the replacement of two aging bridges to the Cape May County Board of Commissioners on April 28.
The presentations detailed the ongoing study for the Corsons Inlet Bridge in Upper Township and the Townsends Inlet Bridge spanning connecting Sea Isle City and Avalon.
Both studies, initiated in March 2025 and federally funded through a Bridge Planning Grant under the jurisdiction of the Federal Highway Administration, aim to address critical structural deficiencies, enhance safety and ensure reliable transportation links along Ocean Drive.
The Corsons Inlet Bridge, built in 1948 and most recently rehabilitated in 2025, spans Strathmere Bay, connecting the community of Strathmere with Ocean City to the north.
Owned and maintained by Cape May County Bridge Commission, the 1,485-foot structure features a single-leaf bascule span that has been inoperable since December 2013 due to deterioration of the mechanism.
Its 20-foot roadway carries an average of 4,264 vehicles daily during peak summer months. Navigational clearance is limited to 15 feet vertically and 50 feet horizontally.
Riegel said the project’s purpose is to correct longstanding deficiencies and deliver a safer, more efficient and reliable crossing for all users and modes of transportation.
The need is urgent, as routine maintenance can no longer address the bridge’s age-related deterioration, according to a news release from the county.
Goals include upgrading to current federal and state safety standards with new parapets and guide rail, reducing major maintenance-related detours, providing ADA-compliant pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and minimizing impacts on social, economic and environmental resources.
A Navigation Impact Report confirms that 93 percent of vessels in the area are under 15 feet in height, with mostly recreational use.
Multiple replacement alternatives were evaluated, including east, west and existing alignments with fixed or movable spans and vertical clearances of 15, 25, 34 or 49 feet. Some concepts incorporate northwest navigation channel shifts.
Detailed comparisons examined construction costs (ranging from about $50 million for rehabilitation options to more than $200 million for full replacements), right of way acquisition needs, environmental screening, construction durations (typically 30 to 50 months) and detour impacts.
Charts illustrated total costs, acres of right of way required and timelines, supporting data-driven selection of a preliminary preferred alternative in the coming months.
The Townsends Inlet Bridge, constructed in 1939 with rehabilitations as recently as 2019, measures 1,373 feet and connects Avalon and Sea Isle City across Townsends Inlet and also features a single-leaf bascule span. Like its counterpart, it has a narrow 20-foot roadway with no shoulders and an average daily traffic count of 5,625 vehicles.
The bridge’s overall condition is rated “poor” due to superstructure section loss and pitting, substructure corrosion and collision damage, inadequate sight distance, lack of modern roadside protections, and absence of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facilities. A high crash rate on the Sea Isle City approach further underscores the need for action.
The project’s purpose mirrors the Corsons Inlet project: providing a safer, more efficient crossing. Objectives emphasize modernizing mechanical and electrical systems, correcting substandard design elements, accommodating navigation and addressing approach roadway safety.
Five primary replacement concepts were presented including partial online low-level movable options, offline west or east mid-level movable bridges and high-level fixed bridges.
Analysis covered construction costs (generally $190 million to $230 million for replacement options), right of way acquisition, construction and detour durations (30 to 50 months) and broader impacts.
“These bridge replacements are essential investments in the safety and connectivity that define Cape May County,” Board of Commissioners Director Leonard C. Desiderio said. “Our residents and the thousands of visitors who rely on Ocean Drive each summer deserve modern, reliable infrastructure. By advancing these federally supported projects through a thoughtful, community-focused process, we are ensuring long-term mobility, supporting local businesses and tourism, protecting the environment and honoring our commitment to sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
The studies represent proactive planning to replace structures that have served the region for decades but now require major intervention.
Once a preliminary preferred alternative is selected for each bridge, the projects will proceed to detailed design and permitting phase.