At its July 17 meeting in Cape May Court House, the Cape May County Bridge Commission received project-status reports covering the Ocean City–Longport, Corson's Inlet, Townsends Inlet, Grassy Sound and Middle Thorofare bridges and related programs. Project Manager Antonio Colón provided the updates to commissioners.
Colón said the Ocean City–Longport Bridge fishing-pier bid documents were finalized with RVE and the Bridge Commission and that the plan was to issue the bid on Aug. 6 or Aug. 13. He reported Corson's Inlet Bridge rehabilitation work was contractually complete and the contractor was finishing punch-list items. On Townsends Inlet Bridge, Colón said staff were still “exploring potential follow-up work that would occur in the off season.”
The commission was told Grassy Sound Bridge superstructure documentation was 100% received and under review and staff were exploring grant funding options. Colón said Senator Booker’s office submitted an earmark request for $5 million for the Grassy Sound Bridge; the meeting record notes that submission will require the project to proceed through Congress, which could delay project timing.
On Middle Thorofare Bridge work tied to Ocean Drive (County Route 621), Colón said the commission held its seventh progress meeting on July 17 and that there was a July 16 conference call involving Haddon, the Michael Baker team, Kevin Lare and Robert Church regarding a $440 million grant related to that work. He added that motor-replacement shop drawings were completed and installation was on schedule for early fall.
Commission staff also reported completion of scour-abatement work and ongoing work on a fender-rehabilitation sequencing and funding plan across multiple bridges. Colón said H&H and RVE were preparing materials for the 2025–2026 NBIS (National Bridge Inspection Standards) bridge-inspection cycle.
Why it matters: the updates cover several structures that serve county traffic and recreational access and include pending federal funding steps that affect timing. The record shows project readiness (bid documents, completed shop drawings, delivered documentation) but also dependencies on external approvals and grant processes that can alter schedules.
The meeting record contains no formal motions or votes tied to these project updates; commissioners received the reports as part of the regular agenda. The commission did not adopt a new project authorization or change an existing contract during the July 17 session.
Next steps noted on the record include issuing the fishing-pier bid in August, reviewing Grassy Sound documentation while pursuing grant options, continuing design and inspection planning for the NBIS cycle, and proceeding with early-fall motor replacement as scheduled.