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Ocean County adopts ordinance to replace Commonwealth Bridge in Manchester Township
Summary
After a brief overview from the county engineer and a public hearing with no comments, the Board adopted Ordinance #2025-17 to replace Commonwealth Bridge (Structure No. 1518-001) in Manchester Township, appropriating $3.25 million and authorizing bonds or notes. Commissioner Frank Sadeghi recorded an abstention on the final vote.
TOMS RIVER — The Ocean County Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance #2025-17 on July 2, authorizing replacement of Commonwealth Bridge (Structure No. 1518-001) in Manchester Township and appropriating $3,250,000 for the work.
County Engineer Mark Jehnke briefed the commissioners before the public hearing, saying the timber substructure had exceeded its useful life and that the county has an active replacement program for bridges. Jehnke said the new structure would be on the same alignment and configuration as the existing bridge.
Director John P. Kelly opened a public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke and the public hearing was closed. On a roll-call vote to adopt the ordinance on final reading, four commissioners voted yes and one commissioner abstained: - Aye: John P. Kelly, Robert S. Arace, Jennifier Bacchione, Virginia E. Haines - Abstained: Frank Sadeghi
The ordinance also authorized issuing up to $1,695,619 in bonds or bond anticipation notes to finance part of the project and identified a $1,695,619 County Aid grant from NJDOT in support of the work.
Why it matters: The replacement is described as preventative infrastructure maintenance to address an aging timber substructure; appropriation and bond authorization will allow the county to proceed with design and construction once award and contracting steps are complete.
