Old Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Concrete To Form Fishing Reef Off Sandy Hook

Concrete from the old Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge is set to go. It'll head to waters off Sandy Hook, where it will become a fishing reef. The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners announced last week that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has given the project the green light.

Barges will haul the concrete around Sandy Hook to the reef site. Crews will keep tearing down the old structure until spring 2026, but material designated for the reef is packed and ready.

"Fishing reefs like the one to be constructed offer numerous ecological benefits such as creating habitat for marine life, providing protection for juvenile fish and offering recreational opportunities for anglers and reef divers," said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, according to a Monmouth County news release. "My fellow Commissioners and I are proud to see the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge project contribute to both our infrastructure and our environment by transforming the old bridge into a resource that supports our coastal ecosystem."

The reef will give marine species a place to live. Young fish will find protection there. Anglers and divers will gain new spots to visit.

"Creating a fishing reef from the former bridge demonstrates the county's commitment to sustainability and to using every resource responsibly," Arnone said.

Richard E. Pierson Construction Co., Inc. of Pilesgrove is handling the demolition. Earlier this year, the county revealed plans to repurpose chunks of the old span for reef construction.

Monmouth County got $31 million in federal funding for the replacement back in 2020. The existing structure had reached the end of its service life and required a complete replacement, according to the state Department of Transportation.

This new reef site will bolster the coastal ecosystem while giving fishermen and divers access to productive waters off the shore.