The Rumson–Sea Bright Bridge (officially the Rumson–Sea Bright Bridge S-32) is a double leaf bascule bridge that carries County Route 520 over the Shrewsbury River from Rumson to Sea Bright, in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Early bridges
The first bridge across the Shrewsbury River connecting Sea Bright to Rumson was a wooden drawbridge constructed in 1870. This was replaced in 1881 by an iron bridge, which was replaced by temporary wooden bridge in 1900 and then a 660-foot steel swing bridge in 1901.
1950 bridge The existing span that connects from Rumson to Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright was built in 1950. It is located more northbound than former spans. The 1950 bridge has become harder to maintain over time and had required repairs twice, once in 2002 and again in 2013.Frequently Asked Questions, Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge S-32 Project. Accessed February 11, 2024. "Construction will take approximately 42 months, with completion in 2025. The construction phase began in Fall 2021 and construction activities are progressing.... The Contractor is required to keep Rumson Road (CR520) open at all times."
Replacement bridge Due to the structural deficiency and functionally obsolete state of the existing structure, Monmouth County had announced plans for a replacement of the existing span at a site south of the current crossing. They predicted that the project would be complete by 2020.Sheehan, Liz. "Public Hearing Scheduled on Replacement of Aging Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge", The Two River Times, April 28, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The existing bridge, also known as Monmouth County Bridge S-32, was built over the Shrewsbury River in 1950 and runs from Rumson Road in Rumson to Ocean Avenue in the borough.... According to the NY/NJ Baykeeper, the first bridge was constructed between the two towns in 1870 and was rebuilt several times."
Construction began in 2022. The new bridge will include two wide shoulders, something the original bridge lacked. It will also include other improvements, such as modernized draw controls, an access ramp to the nearby Sea Bright Beach from the Route 36 intersection, pedestrian beacons and striped crosswalks with the Ward Avenue intersection, and upgrades to the nearby Sea Bright park. Demolition of a nearby Dunkin' Donuts was deemed necessary in order to construct the replacement bridge. The bridge replacement project was scheduled to end in 2025. The new bridge opened to traffic on July 31, 2025.
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