Christie Administration announces grant to
repair Glimmer Glass Bridge in Monmouth County

$1.6 million award part of Local Aid Infrastructure Program

(Trenton) – The Christie Administration today announced a $1.6 million grant to repair the Glimmer Glass Bridge between Brielle and Manasquan, Monmouth County. The grant is being awarded through the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) Local Aid Infrastructure Fund (LAIF) program.

The bridge was damaged in August by an oversized vehicle that crossed the bridge and was closed to traffic to ensure safety. The grant, awarded to Monmouth County which owns the bridge, will allow for an emergency repair to replace the damaged portion of the bridge deck and to strengthen the substructure.

The project will remove and replace the existing irreparable timber deck, timber curbs, and guide rail. The deck will be paved with an asphalt overlay. To strengthen the substructure, some existing pilings will be encased in fiberglass and new timber bulkhead pilings will be installed along the causeway to ensure the stability of the approaches. 

The cable-lift bascule portion of the bridge was not damaged and will remain operational for marine navigation. The project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2015.

The original bridge crossing the Glimmer Glass was built in 1898 as a fixed span bridge. On August 13, 1939, the current cable-lift bascule span bridge opened and began accommodating both marine and vehicle traffic. The bridge was refurbished in the 1950s and 1970s when the original components were replaced.

LAIF grants are among about a dozen Local Aid grant programs administered by the NJDOT that utilize state or federal funds to provide direct support to municipalities and counties, enabling local governments to advance important projects without burdening local property taxpayers.

The grant announced today is part of the Fiscal Year 2015 Local Aid grant program that totaled $190 million. Each year, Local Aid grants represent a significant portion of Local System Support, which also includes local lead projects, regional planning and project development, and transportation enhancement projects.

Municipalities and counties apply for LAIF grants on an as-needed basis throughout the year. The Department awards grants periodically based on the availability of funding and the strength of the application.