The broken drawbridge on Route 71 connecting Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar is causing a decline in revenue for local businesses on Main Street, according to store owners. The closure of the bridge has impacted foot and vehicular traffic in the area, leading to a decrease in sales ranging from 20% to 45%. Businesses are feeling the impact of the bridge closure, with slower days of the week seeing a significant decrease in customer traffic.
The mechanical failure on the 92-year-old bridge occurred on March 1, forcing crews to raise the bridge to allow marine traffic to pass through. However, this decision has unintentionally blocked all Main Street foot and vehicular traffic, diverting customers away from downtown and towards the Route 35 bridge. Local business owners are hopeful that once the bridge is back in operation, foot traffic and sales will return to pre-closure levels in both Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has stated that repairs on the bridge may take up to another month, with the goal of completing the repairs by Memorial Day weekend. NJDOT is working on building replacement parts for the bridge to expedite the repair process. While their target is to have the bridge open by Memorial Day, detours will remain in place until then. This prolonged closure has caused inconvenience for both residents and tourists who were planning trips to Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar during this time.
Local business owners are concerned about reduced foot traffic due to detours that bypass their shops. With limited accessibility due to detours, businesses have experienced a significant decrease in customers and sales. Store owners have expressed frustration over being unable to attract new customers during this time.
Despite these challenges, local business owners are optimistic about returning to normalcy once repairs are completed. They hope that increased foot traffic will lead to an uptick in sales and restore their livelihoods.
In conclusion, businesses on Main Street are suffering as a result of the broken drawbridge’s closure. The prolonged closure has led to decreased customer traffic and sales for stores in Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar