News Archive

September 14, 2023 – Message from the Office of the Cape May County Engineer

Notice of Night Closures for 96^th Street Bridge (C.R. 657)
Borough of Stone Harbor and Township of Middle

The 96^th Street Bridge along Stone Harbor Boulevard leading into the Borough of Stone Harbor will be undergoing repairs to the bascule span (movable span) during nighttime hours beginning on Monday, September 18^th thru September 21st.  Work will proceed Monday thru Thursday nights between 8:00pm to 6:00am.  Due to the nature of the work, the bridge cannot remain open as work proceeds. Thru traffic wishing to access Stone Harbor via Stone Harbor Boulevard will be detoured during these work times with access to Stone Harbor directed to Avalon Boulevard.  Local traffic wishing to access businesses and residences up to the west side of the bridge will be permitted to proceed along Stone Harbor Boulevard. The bridge will re-open at 6:00am each workday and remain opened until 8:00pm that night. There are no anticipated closures on Fridays thru Sundays during the construction phase.

Traffic heading north on the Garden State Parkway wishing to access Stone Harbor at exit 10 will be redirected to proceed north on the Parkway to exit 13 and proceed east on Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) to Ocean Drive (C.R. 619). Traffic will then be directed south along Ocean Drive to Stone Harbor. Traffic travelling south on the parkway will be directed to take exit 13 onto Avalon Boulevard as well. Traffic heading east on Court House South Dennis Road (C.R. 657) will be advised to either take Route 9 north to Avalon Boulevard or to take exit 10 north onto the Garden State Parkway to Avalon Boulevard. Stone Harbor traffic wishing to head west along Stone Harbor Boulevard will be directed north along Third Avenue /Ocean Drive (C.R. 619) and west along Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) to the Garden State Parkway.

The proposed work was prompted by the deflection/vibration of the top side bascule back plates under traffic loads and will address this condition along with other priority repairs deemed necessary by the latest NBIS bridge inspection.  The proposed repairs will arrest deficiencies noted in the latest inspection report.  The detour will be in place only during the periods of night work and normal traffic will resume Monday thru Thursday between 6:00am to 8:00pm.

September 13, 2023 – From Cape May County Government

The Rehabilitation of the 96^th Street (Cr657) Bridge Over Great Channel

Navigation Impact Report Public Meeting

The 96th Street (CR 657) Bridge over Great Channel, Structure No. 0500-006, is a critical link between the Township of Middle and the Borough of Stone Harbor.  Within the limits of the structure, Great Channel is designated as part of the Intracoastal Waterway, a key path of transportation for marine traffic.  Despite the long service life this bridge has provided, the movable span (built circa 1930) is beyond its useful life and is scheduled for replacement.  Construction is expected to start in 2025 with the new movable span in use/operation by the end of 2027/2028.

This Public Information Center is focused on the proposed bridge’s navigational clearances to document and confirm the adequacy of proposed clearances.  The proposed movable span is being designed to match the existing channel clearances.  This includes a 50’ horizontal clearance and a vertical clearance between 8.7’ (at the fenders) and 10.7’ (at the center of the span) when the span is closed, and unlimited vertical clearance when the span is open.

Please note that this session is intended to discuss the proposed navigational clearances and impacts.  A notice for this event has been sent to waterway users accordingly, as well as posted to the neighboring communities’ websites.  As part of the overall rehabilitation of the bridge, a general Public Information Center will be held at a later date.  This meeting is scheduled for 10am on September 26^th (Tuesday) and will be conducted virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform.  The link or data presented below can be used to join the meeting through a web browser, a Microsoft account is not required to join.

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 361 731 961 30
Passcode: 8bhJ8j

Or dial-in info (for audio only):

+1 213-267-3760;

Phone Conference ID: 425 052 624#

September 13, 2023 – A message from the Cape May County Emergency Management Communications Center

Here are the key messages for our region in regards to potential impacts from Lee at the end of this week.

1 – Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are already affecting our region. These will only become more severe through the remainder of the week as the storm moves northward in the western Atlantic. They should start to subside by Sunday.

2 – The ocean waters will become increasingly hazardous for small craft starting today as seas build, with waves possibly exceeding 10 feet by Thursday or Friday. 

3 – Minor coastal flooding and beach erosion will become a concern as the system makes its closest approach late Friday into Saturday.

4 – Winds over the ocean and adjacent near-shore regions may approach gale force (gusts to near 40 mph) late Friday into Saturday. Gale warnings may be required for the ocean waters.

5 – The track of Lee will influence any further impacts across our region, which could include stronger winds and rain if the track shifts further west. At this time, odds of tropical storm conditions anywhere in our region remain less than 5 percent, but as the storm is still a couple days away, all interests should closely monitor the progress of the storm.

We have also attached the current track forecast and wind speed probabilities. For the latest information on the track forecast, visit  opens in a new windowwww.nhc.noaa.gov. For the latest rainfall amount forecast, visit  opens in a new windowhttps://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=qpf For the latest local forecast please visit  opens in a new windowwww.weather.gov/phi 

September 13, 2023

Lifeguards are on duty, today, at 83rd, 95th, 100th, 108th Streets.

There is still a high rip current risk. Swim only at guarded locations.

September 12, 2023

Lifeguards are on duty, today, at 83rd, 95th, 100th and 108th Streets. We are currently experiencing strong riptides. Only enter the water at guarded beaches. Bathing is restricted to waist deep.

September 11, 2023

A message from the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management Communications Center.

Here are the key messages for our region in regards to potential impacts from Lee at the end of this week.

1 – Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are the most likely hazard to affect our region. These will likely become significant Tuesday and only become more severe through the remainder of the week as the storm moves northward in the western Atlantic. They should start to subside by Sunday.

2 – The ocean waters will become increasingly hazardous for small craft starting Wednesday as seas build, with waves possibly exceeding 10 feet by Thursday or Friday.

3 – The track of Lee will influence any further impacts across our region, which could include gusty winds and rain if the track shifts further west. At this time, odds of tropical storm conditions anywhere in our region are only 5 percent, but as the storm is still several days away, all interests should closely monitor the progress of the storm.

Below is the current track forecast and wind speed probabilities. For the latest information on the track forecast, visit www.nhc.noaa.gov. For the latest rainfall amount forecast, visit https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=qpf For the latest local forecast please visit www.weather.gov/phi

September 11, 2023

Lifeguards are on duty a the following beaches:

• 83rd Street
• 95th Street
• 100th Street
• 108th Street

Please note that we are experiencing very strong riptides today. Only swim at guarded beaches.

September 10, 2023

Weather permitting, lifeguards are on duty at the following beaches:

• 83rd Street
• 87th Street
• 95th Street
• 100th Street
• 103rd Street
• 108th Street
• 112th Street
• 117th Street
• 122nd Street

September 9, 2023

Lifeguards are on duty at the following beaches:

• 83rd Street
• 87th Street
• 95th Street
• 100th Street
• 103rd Street
• 108th Street
• 112th Street
• 117th Street
• 122nd Street

September 8, 2023

The Stone Harbor Beach Patrol has lifeguards posted at the following beaches today:

• 83rd Street
• 95th Street
• 108th Street
• 122nd Street.