On Aug. 28, 2025, the Cape May County Bridge Commission heard comprehensive capital-project updates from Executive Director Kevin Lare, who outlined upcoming bids, change orders, grant deadlines and equipment work affecting multiple county bridges and approaches. Mr. Lare reported that a bid package for the Ocean City–Longport fishing pier will be released Sept. 3, with bids due Sept. 24, and that the project estimate is $517,350 in Bridge Commission funds. He said County Commissioners approved a $46,000 change order on Corson’s Inlet Bridge and that a South State change order is expected Sept. 9. The commission received an estimated $6.5 million cost for fender systems (one side) at Townsends Inlet and Grassy Sound and was told the priority is to advance work at Townsends Inlet this fall because it is the most urgent. Mr. Lare also reported that Grassy Sound superstructure rehabilitation cannot move to construction until the “CDS (Booker) process in Congress” plays out, per his update. On Middle Thorofare, staff held an eighth progress meeting Aug. 21 on Ocean Drive (CR 621) improvements and bridge replacements and identified three grants to pursue: a culvert grant (opens June 2026, due Aug. 2026), the PROTECT grant (due Feb. 24, 2026) and the BUILD grant (opens fall 2025 with applications due within 90 days of opening). Mr. Lare said the BUILD grant has the most potential funding and that the project application “will probably land around $200 million” (estimate attributed to Mr. Lare in the meeting). He reported that motor replacement work has a latest estimated completion of late November and that Grassy Sound/Middle Thorofare scour-abatement work is complete and awaiting as-built drawings. The commission also learned that a Bridge Replacement Local Concept Development study is in progress. On inspection and equipment, Mr. Lare said RFPs for the NBIS (National Bridge Inspection Standards) biennial inspections were received the day before the meeting and a recommendation for award will be made at the next meeting. He reported that new AET scanners from OSI will be installed in September and October, and that new EZPass signage has been installed on the gantry and approaches with more signs on order. There was no public comment on these updates.