| Thomas A. Mathis Bridge J. Stanley Tunney Bridge |
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|---|---|
| Official name | Thomas A. Mathis Bridge (eastbound) J. Stanley Tunney Bridge (westbound) |
| Carries | 6 lanes of Route 37 |
| Crosses | Barnegat Bay with crossing through Pelican Island |
| Locale | Toms River, New Jersey and Seaside Heights, New Jersey |
| Design | Twin beam bridges |
| Total length | 530 ft |
| Width | 18 ft |
| Longest span | 170 ft |
| Opened | April 9, 1950 (Thomas A. Mathis Bridge, eastbound) March 29, 1970 (J. Stanley Tunney Bridge, westbound) |
The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge and J. Stanley Tunney Bridge are a pair of bridges that span Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, connecting Route 37 in Toms River with Pelican Island and communities along the Jersey Shore on the Barnegat Peninsula. The bridges pass through Toms River Township and a small piece of Berkeley Township, before ending at Route 35 in Seaside Heights.
The Thomas A. Mathis Bridge was completed April 9, 1950 to replace a narrow wooden bridge that had served as the only connection between the mainland and the shore. It is a bascule bridge that allows ship traffic to pass under the bridge when it is raised.
The J. Stanley Tunney Bridge was completed March 29, 1970 to carry westbound traffic, while the Mathis bridge was dedicated for vehicles traveling eastbound. The Tunney Bridge is a high level girder bridge that was designed to allow tall ships to pass under it without requiring a bridge opening. Although both bridges have three lanes, those on the Tunney Bridge are wider. Because Route 37 is one of a few links to the barrier island beaches, the bridge and the entire highway are routinely jammed with both local and tourist traffic throughout the summer months.
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