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The Middle Thorofare Bridge in Lower Township opened without any restrictions to drivers, walkers, and bicyclists at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, the Cape May County government said in a news alert. A "total failure" of the drive-shaft motor used to open the bridge forced the closure on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The county had first said the best-case scenario for the bridge's reopening would be after "many weeks" of searching internationally for a motor. The drawbridge between Diamond Beach and Cape May was kept upright to allow boats to pass underneath it.
The county's bridge commission was able to find a new drive-shaft motor and crews worked "from morning to night" to urgently replace the system.
"I want to extend my heartfelt and sincere thanks to our county public works, bridge commission staff, and consultant electrical engineers for their efforts to source a new motor and for working long hours to repair the system that resulted in the reopening of the Middle Thorofare Bridge," said Leonard Desiderio, director of the county's board of commissioners. "Under the leadership of our county administrator and bridge commission director Kevin Lare, we took a best-case multi-week closure scenario and made a miracle happen.
"With that said, the dedication and commitment of our county team to restore the bridge to full functionality is truly commendable."
The bridge is also used by beachgoers heading to the Wildwoods from the southern end of the Garden State Parkway.
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