Bridge Entering Stone Harbor, NJ Will Be Closed For Two Days

Four months after construction work began on one of the oldest bridges in Cape May County, motors will be detoured for two days this upcoming week for the final phase of repairs.

The Great Channel Bridge, which is part of the Ocean Drive Highway that connects all of the South Jersey Shore Towns, will be closed to traffic to complete the final repairs for the bridge's bascule span. The previous round of bridge work was completed over four weeks back in October of 2023.

These final repairs are to avoid any future issues with the bridge that connects the southern end of Stone Harbor to Route 619 on the way to North Wildwood.  On Tuesday, February 13th, and Wednesday, February 14th, motorists will be detoured as the bridge will be closed for construction crews to complete the installation of masonry bearing plates underneath the west-facing bascule girder.

During this week's construction, Traffic traveling into and out of Stone Harbor will be directed away from the Great Channel Bridge and instead have to use the 96th Street Bridge.  This is the final round of repairs for the bridge which is almost 80 years old after it had to be closed for emergency repairs almost 12 months ago.

Back in June 1940, the Cape May County Bridge Commission opened four bridges to connect the Ocean Highway that would link Cape May to Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood to Stone Harbor, and Avalon to Sea Isle City.  The other three bridges (Townsends Inlet Bridge, Middle Thorofare Bridge, and Grassy Sound Bridge) were closed for repairs back in December.