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Ceremonial Ribbon-Cutting Held For Bridge Opening
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo By Jo Ann La Russo Township and county officials were on hand recently to mark the "official" welcome to downtown Toms River's new bridge. Officials hope the span will alleviate traffic congestion. |
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TOMS RIVER - A ribbon cutting ceremony for the $5.4 million southbound Toms River Bridge took place Wednesday with nearly 100 people in attendance.
Braving the wintry weather and crowded into a tent that was set up near Herflicker Boulevard, officials opened the ceremony with the posting of the colors by the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Color Guard followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Freeholder John Kelly welcomed the crowd and introduced fellow Freeholders Joseph H. Vicari, Gerry Little and John Bartlett.
Vicari praised all levels of government that he said helped bring the idea to fruition. "This was a dream, a vision," he said. "This was not partisan politics."
"Promises made and kept," is how
Little described the long awaited
project in downtown Toms River. "It's not a perfect solution, but it is
better than what we had," he said of the 153-foot span.
Also at the ceremony was Kathy Tjunin, whose father, the late Rep. James J. Howard D-NJ, secured the first $2 million for the project in 1987.
Bartlett, in his 28th year as a
Freeholder, said that the bridge "is a product of fine engineering
that moves traffic more quickly and thoroughly."
Most of the guest speakers gave a special recognition to the late James Mancini, whose name graces the room at the Toms River Library, where a reception was held following the ceremony.
"This wasn't just about building a bridge," Michael Redpath, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, said. "It's about the revitalization of the downtown area."
Redpath said that the bridge has played a role in opening up the area and added that the Township Council has petitioned the Planning Board to begin a redevelopment study for the downtown site.
Ocean County Engineer Ronald A. Lotrecchio thanked all those involved in the construction of the bridge.
Lotrecchio, along with Mayor Paul Brush and Toms River Police Chief Michael G. Mastronardy, was on hand assisting early morning commuters the first day that the bridge opened up to traffic in December.
Lotrecchio gave a special thanks to the residents of Ocean County and Toms River, and to Jersey Central Power and Light Company and the New Jersey Natural Gas Company, that made possible the construction by relocating power lines at the companies expense.
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