Avon by the sea

The Route 71 Bridge closure traps fishing boats and whale watch vessels as saltwater damage forces an indefinite shutdown in lower Monmouth County.

The state Department of Environmental Protection made the call Monday to prohibit swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, mobile sport fishing and all nature center programs at Island Beach State Park through at least Thursday.

The 93-year-old bridge, also known as Route 71, was completely closed on June 13 when the South Bridge leaf suffered a mechanical failure and unable to go up-and-down.

As summer kicks off, the closure of the Shark River Bridge is causing some headaches for locals and visitors alike.

A shuttle began running Tuesday morning between the business districts in Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea as emergency repairs continue on the Route 71 bridge.

" it’s clear that this mechanical failure could have been avoided with consistent preventative maintenance," Monmouth County Commission Tom Arnone said about the indefinite closure of the Shark River Bridge.

The Atlantic Ocean has been churned up by persistent on-shore breeze that has caused a constant rough surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding since last week.

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