Ocean County officials will soon embark on a maintenance project to shore up the popular fishing pier beside the Mantoloking Bridge.
The county freeholder board on Wednesday awarded a contract for $117,371 to engineering firm Mott MacDonald to provide their expertise to upgrade portions of the pier, which is built on a small remaining sliver of the former bridge which once crossed Barnegat Bay.
“There is timber underneath that needs work,” said Freeholder Virginia Haines, following the meeting. “We know it’s a popular spot and we want to make sure we keep up on it.”
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The upgrades will include safety improvements and walkway maintenance but will mainly focus on the undercarriage of the old bridge to ensure it can withstand the elements and continue to operate as a fishing pier.
The county’s Mantoloking Bridge County Park spans both sides of Mantoloking Road in Brick. Additional piers, mainly used for crabbing, are located on the north side of the road next to Brick’s Traders Cove park. A walkway under the bridge provides access to the fishing pier on the south side of the currently-operating bridge.