After failing in May, the Dorset Avenue Bridge, which connects Ventnor Heights to Absecon Island, has been closed to boat traffic for the summer.
Currently, the bridge is stuck in the down position due to a faulty system, allowing vehicular traffic to pass but preventing larger boats from traveling through the Intracoastal Waterway, and finding replacement parts has proven difficult.
The bridge is owned and maintained by Atlantic County, but according to County Executive Dennis Levinson, although there have been some inquiries, it is unlikely to be replaced at this time.
The bascule bridge, originally built in 1929 by the Strauss Bascule Bridge Co. of Chicago and rehabilitated in 1994, has continued to face intermittent mechanical and electrical problems over the years, largely due to its age and the corrosive effects of salt water on its steel components, according to the county.
Officials also noted that its status as one of the few remaining drawbridges makes sourcing replacement parts particularly challenging.
Its historic design further complicates the possibility of replacement, as such a project would need to address environmental impacts and involve complex mechanical, electrical and software systems.
Given these factors, along with the bridge’s deteriorating condition, a full replacement would be significantly more disruptive and expensive than the current repair efforts.
“Replacing this bridge would be extraordinarily expensive, potentially $85-$100 million or more, and time-consuming, creating a financial burden and huge inconvenience on our residents,” said Levinson.
The County Executive also noted a recent replacement of a bridge in Port Republic that cost $12 million and took two years to complete.
“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,” he said.
In order to resolve the Dorset Avenue Bridge, the county is working to replace the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system, followed by the replacement of the full mechanical and electrical portions of the bridge, including structural work.
Specifications for the PLC are currently being developed under an emergency contract, and an inspection of the submarine wiring has already been completed, with bidding expected to take place this summer. The complete mechanical and electrical upgrades are scheduled to be part of the county’s 2026 capital improvement plan. In addition, the county is actively pursuing grant opportunities to help fund the necessary renovations.
As those plans move forward, Levinson stated that county crews are focusing on improving the bridge’s appearance through power washing, regular cleanup and ongoing maintenance efforts.
“The Dorset Avenue Bridge is one of the oldest of the 194 bridges between 5 and 20+ feet that are owned and maintained by Atlantic County,” Levinson 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.”
