The county announced Tuesday that the long-anticipated project to replace an aging bridge along Seven Bridges Road in Little Silver will begin July 9.

The work, which is expected to wrap up in January 2013, will require a detour for all motor vehicles traveling the stretch of roadway between Rumson Road and Little Silver Point Road. The county advised that motorists should use the signed detours and expect travel delays throughout the project.

Specifically, northbound traffic on Seven Bridges Road will detour west on Silverside Avenue to Branch Avenue and then travel north on Branch Avenue to Rumson Road. Conversely, southbound traffic should follow Rumson Road west to Branch Avenue and then travel south to Silverside Avenue.

A map of the detour can be found alongside this article.

“The structurally-deficient dual span timber bridge on Seven Bridges Road will be replaced with a new pre-cast concrete deck on a reinforced concrete abutment,” County Engineer Joseph Ettore said. “The new structure will meet current vehicular highway load requirements and eliminate the current weight restrictions on the bridge.”

A pedestrian bridge will be provided over the creek with access to and from the adjacent Point Road School. 

Two temporary traffic lights were installed along Branch Avenue at Rumson Road and the White Road-Winfield Avenue intersection, to help offset the expected increase in traffic. The lights were switched on June 25.

“While it is likely you will experience some delays in your travel due to the detour, we believe the use of temporary signals at both locations are necessary to improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians due to increased traffic volumes created by the detour,” Ettore said.  

The work will be performed by Lucas Brothers Inc. of Marlboro under a contract in the amount of $2,734,832.

“The county understands the inconvenience these detours will have on motorists and local residents,” said John W. Tobia, director of the county’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “Unfortunately, this work cannot be completed without the closure of the bridge and road to vehicular traffic.”