Weymouth Bridge Closed

[Kevinhooa]

Went to take Weymouth Rd. home from the Black Horse Pike today and saw a sign that said " Weymouth Bridge - no trucks". Assuming cars and motorcycles were still ok, I took the exit only to find that the bridge in front of the furnace was indeed closed, and actually closed to everything. I didn't really look around too good, but I couldn't tell if the bridge finally gave way somewhere, or they're getting ready to fill the cracks before the winter freeze. Anybody know if this is the end of that bridge?

 

[Pine Baron]

Thanx for posting this. It would be a long go around if you're coming down from the WHP in Hammonton.
The only info I found was this:

http://www.aclink.org/AdminServ/press/mainpages/pr_detail.asp?ID=997

Though this isn't until November and sounds like the train bridge further up in Hammonton near the junkyard.

John-

 

[Arey]

The Atlanrtic City Press had an article in the paper today that the Weymouth Furnace bridge would be closed "indefinitely".

The county wants to upgrade it so it can carry heavier traffic but the state has previously denied the county permission because it is considered a historical type of bridge structure. I forget what type of bridge it is, but apparently it's not very common any more.

Is this going to turn into another snafu like the Beesley'sPoint bridge?

 

[Mts83]

If its this bridge, it's the 1920 Warren Pony-Truss bridge, which is on the register of historic places. Very few examples of this bridge now exist in the area, and most have been modified, unlike this one (Hospitality Creek and the one over English Creek are modified versions).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22516573@N07/2528894417/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22516573@N07/3948001358/

The bridge that does look like it needs work is this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22516573@N07/3879583399/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22516573@N07/3947217153
This is the bridge for the millrace into the forge area, with sandbags that were paved over.

 

[MikeBickerson]

What happened to the Beesely's Point Bridge? Is it ever opening up again?

I'm a backroads person, and I'm not a big fan of having to get off of Rt 9 and onto the Parkway every time I'm down that way.

 

[Kevinhooa]

Bridge

As far as a go-around route, you can still use Gale Ave., but I'm sure that will cause some trouble with cars crossing the pike there.
That bridge is in really bad shape, and some of the I-beams aren't even connected to anything, and the cross bracing is completely gone underneath. If they're going to save that bridge, it's going to take a heck of a lot of work to get it back in shape. Replacing all of the supporting beams means replacing over half of the bridge. Unless they sister the beams with newer ones, but then the old beams are left to deteriorate and fall into the river. I think it will take a while before anything gets done unless the community really puts some pressure on the township.
As for the Rt. 9 bridge, the state just recently bought it from the people in Beesleys Point who were unable to get the funds for repair. I heard the construction is not supposed to be done until 2012 though. When I talked to the bridge operator, I think he said it was built in 1926.