The Middle Thorofare Bridge in Lower Township, New Jersey, was reopened on Saturday after a boat collision caused its closure on Friday night. The bridge, which connects Lower Township's Diamond Beach and Wildwood Crest to Cape May, was struck by a 90-foot commercial fishing boat that lost power. The boat was pinned to the north side of the bridge by the current before being towed away. No crew members were injured in the incident.
The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, according to 6abc.com. The bridge was closed until 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, following a thorough inspection by Cape May County Bridge Commission, Cape May County Officials, and Engineer Professionals. The bridge had recently reopened after being shut down for two weeks due to a mechanical issue.
The Middle Thorofare Bridge is a crucial route connecting the communities of the Wildwoods to the mainland and offers a direct route to the southern end of the Garden State Parkway and Cape May. The bridge has been described as obsolete and well past its useful life in a county report on bridges. The county Board of Commissioners expects to approve a design for a new bridge at the site this fall.