For thousands of residents, workers and beachgoers who cross the Margate Causeway each day, the cost of getting to and from Absecon Island is about to rise.
The Downbeach Express, formerly known as the Margate Bridge and Causeway, announced that tolls will increase beginning June 16, just as the busy summer tourism season gets underway. The privately owned crossing serves as a key route connecting Margate, Ventnor and Longport with Egg Harbor Township and the mainland.
Under the new rates, motorists using a Downbeach Express Pass will pay $2 per crossing, up from $1.85. Drivers paying cash will see the larger increase, with tolls rising from $2.50 to $3 per trip. The increase represents roughly an 8% hike for Express Pass users and a 20% increase for cash customers.
Officials with Ole Hansen & Sons, the longtime owner and operator of the crossing, said the additional revenue is needed to maintain and modernize the nearly 95-year-old infrastructure. The bridge was built at the height of the Great Depression.
The toll road includes four bridges and a two-mile causeway that provide a direct connection to the Downbeach communities.
“Our patrons trust us to keep these bridges safe, open and moving — in every season and every storm,” CEO Robert Snyder said in a statement announcing the increase. The company said toll revenue will be reinvested into bridge maintenance, technology upgrades and environmental protection projects.
Recent work has included deck and drawbridge repairs, ongoing steel and guardrail maintenance, and improvements to toll collection systems. The company also highlighted environmental initiatives, including the installation of fencing designed to protect diamondback terrapins along the causeway.
The Downbeach Express uses its own proprietary payment system and does not accept E-ZPass. Drivers can purchase a refillable Express Pass card for discounted rates, though the company has announced plans to replace the current cards and decals with vehicle-mounted transponders later this year.
While motorists may not welcome another travel expense, company officials noted that the increase remains lower than some recent toll hikes on other major New Jersey roadways, including the Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike.
For many South Jersey residents and summer visitors, the Margate Causeway remains one of the most direct routes to the island’s beach communities. Beginning June 16, however, that convenience will come at a slightly higher price.
