The closure of the Route 71 bridge connecting Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar has caused a decline in revenue along Main Street, according to local business owners. 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. Store owners have expressed concerns about reduced foot traffic due to the detour that bypasses their shops. With limited access to the stores, there is a significant decrease in customers and sales for businesses on Main Street.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is working on building replacement parts for the bridge 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.
According to local business owners, the broken drawbridge stuck in an up position has caused a decline in revenue along Main Street. The closure of the bridge has impacted foot and vehicular traffic in the area, leading to a decrease in sales ranging from 20% to 45% for businesses on Main Street.
The NJDOT stated that repairs on Route 71 may take up another month before they can complete it by Memorial Day weekend. The mechanical failure on March 1 forced crews to raise