UPDATE: Route 35 Bridge is Passable Again

The Route 35 bridge, between Point Pleasant Beach and Brielle, is now passable again, but might be up again tomorrow.

Contractors for the state Department of Transportation (DOT) have finished work for the day, but may need to do additional work Thursday, possibly even Friday, said Timothy Greeley, a DOT spokesperson.

If there is more work to be done, necessitating keeping the bridge in the raised position, it will be done only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Greeley said.

The bridge was kept in the raised position for hours earlier today, causing a major traffic-back up this morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, Greeley, in response to Patch's questions about the bridge, wrote in an email:

"Our guys are doing some maintenance testing of the Route 35 drawbridge today - with a couple of 15-minute full openings required. The work is basically like an annual pre-summer season maintenance check-up that we do for all of our movable bridges to ensure that they are in optimal condition for the summer, when they are in use more frequently. Like a tune-up for a drawbridge.

"Unfortunately," Greeley added, "my office was not informed beforehand so I was unable to get out any notification. I have been told that we will be informed in advance of any similar work in the future." 

Greeley said he is expecting to provide Patch with an additional update this evening or Thursday morning.

This story will be updated when more information is available.