DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Dorset Avenue Bridge in Ventnor will reopen to vehicular traffic at 4 PM today (10/14/05) without any weight restrictions. The bridge had been closed to traffic since September 26 for repairs due to its deteriorated steel grid deck system. Motorists may experience lane shifts as work continues over the next few days. The Dorset Avenue Bridge in Ventnor will be closed to vehicular traffic for repairs beginning Monday, September 26, 2005 at 7:00 AM. A detour will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the construction project which is expected to last through October 14, 2005. Construction crews will be working to replace the bridge’s deteriorated steel grid deck system from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week. Motorists are advised to follow the posted detour route or plan an alternate route. The detour route includes Ventnor Avenue, Albany Avenue (U.S. Route 322/40) across Albany Avenue Bridge, and West End/Wellington Avenue. The bridge will be open to pedestrians, Ventnor emergency response vehicles on emergency calls, and marine vessels with restrictions. Pedestrians are advised to follow signage to the appropriate sidewalk. Pedestrians may experience some minor delays while construction crews are operating overhead equipment in the vicinity of the sidewalk. Marine traffic will be limited to single leaf openings in accordance with the regular bridge operation schedule between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM for the duration of the construction work. Vessels that require a double leaf opening between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM must provide a two (2) hour advance notification to the bridge operator on duty. There will be no restrictions to the bridge operation schedule for marine vessels between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.   This project has been completed.