The county has no plans at this time to replace the Dorset Avenue Bridge, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said Wednesday.
The bridge is currently restricted to carrying vehicular traffic, but is in the down position, preventing larger boats from traveling under the bridge through the Intracoastal Waterway between Ventnor Heights and Absecon Island. Taller boats cannot fit through the passage without the drawbridge being raised.
Dorset Avenue is a county road and the bridge is owned and operated by the county. Levinson said despite inquiries, it is not likely to be replaced at this time.
“Replacing this bridge would be extraordinarily expensive, potentially $85 (million) to $100 million or more, and time-consuming, creating a financial burden and huge inconvenience on our residents,” Levinson said. “We recently replaced a bridge in Port Republic and that cost $12 million and took two years. Replacing the Dorset Avenue Bridge would be much more involved because it is an historic bascule bridge with environmental requirements and complex electrical, mechanical and software issues.”
The bridge was rehabilitated in 1994, but has experienced periodic mechanical and electrical issues over the years due to its age and the affects of salt water on the steel structure. It is one of very few remaining drawbridges, which makes it difficult to find replacement parts. When parts are needed and cannot be found, new specifications must be developed and new parts must be programmed into modern electronic systems.
To resolve the bridge’s present issue, the county has plans to first replace the Programmable Logic Controller, or PLC, system followed by the replacement of the full mechanical and electrical portions of the bridge, including structural work.
In the interim, the county is attempting to find parts for the existing PLC under an emergency contract and has already completed an inspection of the submarine wiring.
Specifications for the PLC are being developed now for bidding this summer. The full mechanical/electrical work will be included in the county’s 2026 capital plan. The county also is exploring grant opportunities for potential funding of necessary renovations.
While the county proceeds with these plans, Levinson confirmed that county crews are working to improve the bridge’s visual aesthetics with power washing, routine cleanup and maintenance.
“The Dorset Avenue Bridge is one of the oldest of the 194 bridges between 5 and 20-plus feet that are owned and maintained by Atlantic County,” he said. “While the issues we experience can create temporary inconveniences for motorists, pedestrians and/or boaters, they pale in comparison to the inconvenience a full replacement would incur, not to mention the cost to taxpayers.”
