A Local Concept Development (LCD) study of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge S-32 was completed in 2013 through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), using federal funding in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with Monmouth County as the project sponsor. Monmouth County continued to work closely with NJTPA, NJDOT and FHWA, in completing the Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) phase in 2017 and the Final Design (FD) phase in 2020 as the project lead. The bridge replacement project has now been awarded for construction, and field activity began in Fall 2021.

During the LCD phase, a well-defined Purpose and Need Statement was developed focusing on the need to improve safety and maintain the current crossing over the Shrewsbury River. Several sensible and practical conceptual alternatives were developed to meet the project goals and objectives. In coordination with the NJTPA, NJDOT, FHWA, local officials, community stakeholders, and permitting agencies, and upon completion of an alternatives analysis, a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) was recommended to replace the bridge with a new structure to the south of the existing bridge. Resolutions of Support were passed for the PPA by the Borough of Rumson, the Borough of Sea Bright and the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners (formerly known as Chosen Freeholders). Improvements to the Rumson Road (CR 520)/Ward Avenue intersection were also proposed along with improvements to better accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists at the Rumson Road (CR 520) and Ocean Avenue (NJ Route 36) intersection in the vicinity of the bridge.

The LPE Phase involved performing engineering and environmental tasks required to obtain an approved National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for the project. Right-of-Way and environmental impacts for the proposed project were identified along with the needed construction permits. Meetings with local officials, community stakeholders, and the general public were also conducted during this LPE phase for the design development and environmental studies documentation. The PPA for the proposed improvements to the Rumson Road (CR 520) & Ward Avenue intersection was modified during this phase. Improvements to West Park were also proposed including a walkway connecting both sides of the park under the new bridge. Additional outreach meetings with affected property owners and business owners were also held during the LPE Phase.

The FD phase involved preparing the bridge and roadway intersection final design plans and construction contract documents including specifications and traffic management plans. During this phase, access modifications along with negotiation of needed property Right-of-Way (ROW) for construction of the project were completed and the needed environmental permits for construction were obtained. To inform and to encourage community involvement, two community stakeholders meetings were held. Final design plans, bridge improvements, and aesthetic elements for the new bridge, such as architectural treatments and streetscape design elements for Rumson Road intersections with Ward Avenue in Rumson and Ocean Avenue (Route 36) in Sea Bright, were presented at an online public information center meeting.

The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing bridge so traffic flow and pedestrian access will be maintained during the entire phase of construction. Once the new movable bridge is completed, traffic will shift to the new structure and the existing bridge will then be demolished.

Notifying the public about traffic patterns and potential delays during the bridge replacement and construction of roadway improvements will be important throughout the project duration. There will be continued community and public involvement efforts to maintain on-going awareness and communication through the construction activities needed for the bridge replacement and approach roadway intersection improvements in Rumson and in Sea Bright. The project website will provide traffic staging updates and inform the community and general public of outreach meetings and important project information.