Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Images

by Greg Kelly · Published August 5, 2025 · Updated September 6, 2025

A new bridge — linking two distinct communities — opens …

Toll to pay

A total of five bridges have connected the boroughs of Sea Bright and Rumson over the past 150 years. A sixth river crossing — constructed at a nine-figure cost — is now functional. Local officials held a “soft opening” in July 2025.

The very first Shrewbury River span — the Jumping Point Draw Bridge — was opened in 1870. The 340-foot-long, wooden bridge linked Ocean Avenue with Rumson Road. Milfin Paul had acquired 100 acres of land between the two water bodies to build the crossing. That structure was replaced in 1881 by a $36,700 iron bridge designed by Wilson Brothers & Company of Philadelphia and built by the Delaware Bridge Company. It required a toll to pass — a penny for a walker, a nickle for a one-horse coach and a dime for a two-horse coach. William Rodney was the first bridge tender. Monmouth County would end the toll-collections by buying the bridge for $30,000. A third temporary wooden bridge lasted just one year.

In June 1901, a new steel, steam-powered, swing-bridge opened with a celebratory parade, speeches and cannon salute. Wynkoop & Braly Company was the designer and American Bridge Company of NY was the builder. At 660-foot-long, the cost was $65,000. Rumson Road millionaire Edward Kemp was an influential supporter of the bridge (his 1902 death left an estate with an ’25 equivalent of $350+ million).

Who should the new bridge be named for? Suggestions — HERE

In September 1949, the borough paid $7,500 to acquire old railroad property for better access to a new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. The current double-leaf bascule bridge opened in February 1951. It cost $1.5 million; Morris Goodkind was the designer and Ole Hansen & Sons was the builder. According to a 1950 dedication plaque, the bridge is officially the “Shrewsbury River Bridge.” In the 1940s, Ocean Avenue was re-designated as a state highway, NJ Route 36.

In November 2021 ground was broken for a new county drawbridge; the structure was completed and opened in July 2025. Demolition of the old bridge to the north will take 6 months. Hardesty & Hanover of New York did the design work and R. E. Pierson Construction Company of Pilesgrove, NJ is the builder. The total project cost was about $138 million — nearly all paid for by the federal government.

The new drawbridge will continue to open for marine traffic. Depending on the tides, clearance for boats under the current bridge is between 15 and 20 feet. That isn’t expect to change much.

• Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge Images — HERE

New Connection — Local officials at ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, July 2025.

Side-by-Side — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridges — old and new, August 2025. On weekdays (Monday to Thursday), the bridge opens only on boater signal. On weekends (Friday to Sunday) and holidays (Memorial Day to Labor Day), the bridge opens on at the top of each hour from 7 am to 8 pm.

Steal & Steam — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907. Opened in June 1901, the new swing-span bridge cost $65,000. It lasted for 50 years.

Simple Times — Rumson-Sea Bright bridge (r) nearby Packer’s Real Estate Exchange office and the Sea Bright Inn, early 1900s.

Double Up — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridges — old (l) and new (r) — in draw-open position, May 2025.

All In — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge and Ocean Avenue looking north to Sandy Hook, 1968.

Digging In — New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge ceremonial ground-breaking, November 2021.

Over the River — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge on its opening, 1881 (Ed Pomphrey Photo).

New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (l) nearing finish next to old bridge (r), 1950. In June 1939, Great Britain’s Royal Couple, and Queen Elizabeth, crossed the bridge on their way to Sandy Hook.

Auto Arrival — The first car to cross the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge was driven by Sea Bright Councilman Ralph W. Lawrence, February 1951.

Down Stream — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2022.

Way Back — Rumson-Sea Bright area map, 1889.

Troubled Waters — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2025.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge dusk, September 2023.

Old & New — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, July 2025.

Side-by-Side — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridges — old (r) and new (l), June 2025 (StansPhotos.com).

Presidential Plank — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, late 1940s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed over the bridge one summer day 85+ years ago. In August 1939, America’s CEO was traveling from Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook to the Red Bank train station and on to Washington, DC. Hundreds of Sea Bright residents led by Mayor Walter Sweeney cheered for FDR as he passed (escorted by 12 state police motorcycles). He carried New Jersey in all four of his US presidential races (1932-1944).

Open Up! — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking south, 2019. Neils Jacobsen was chief bridge operator from the 1930s to the 1950s. He also served as a Republican borough councilman from 1927 to 1960. A officer in the US Army Air Corp during WWII, he died in Feb. 1975.

By the Bridge — “Rail Road Park” and the P. Hall Packer Real Estate Exchange office at Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, August 1911. The Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge is visible in the foreground and the Sea Bright Railroad Station is in the background. P. Hall Packer was the first mayor of Sea Bright.

Close Neighbors — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022. This north-looking aerial image — with the bridge in the distance — highlights the densely-packed western section of Sea Bright.

Seaside Shot — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

Top Side — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930. Looking west into Rumson from the top of the bridge.

Sundown Cross — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.

Looking West — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

Reflections — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.

Light Traffic — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1916. Looking west on Ocean Avenue toward the bridge and Rumson beyond.

Getting There — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, November 2024 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge upon its opening, February 1951.

Rumson-Sea Bright, 1906. Looking east toward the ocean.

Rumson-Sea Bright drawbridge, 1905.

Big Picture — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 2018.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with toll booth, 1903.

Another Day — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dawn, 2021.

The Stretch — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. It has endured 75 years of traffic.

Old Stuff — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1906.

Just One Look — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, March 2024 (Brain Allen Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, 1948 (Ed Pomphrey Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 1950.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1949.

Side-by-Side — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridges, old and new, February 2024 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).

Welcome to Sea Bright — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019 (Frank E. Snead Photo).

Open Up — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2021 (Alyssa Isoldi Scheffer Photo). The Seabright Beach Club is in the background. The borough’s longest operating private beach club marks 130 summer seasons this year.

Early On — Jumping Point Draw Bridge, 1870s. The first water link between Rumson and Sea Bright.

Simpler Time — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, late-1940s.

Over All — Sea Bright aerial image, 1920. Some 9,000 cars crossed over the bridge in a single summer day in August 1922, according to the Long Branch Daily Record.

Above All — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge area, 1887 sketch.

Open Up — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.

All New — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, Summer 1950.

Horse Play — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. New York Daily Tribune, July 1902.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Monmouth Beach, Fall 2023 (Helen McAndrew Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dawn, Fall 2023.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, July 2023 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dusk, February 2023 (Brigid Trovato Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.

Crossing over the Rumson Bridge heading east into Sea Bright, 1906.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1980s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, January 2023 (Brian Allen Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with toll booth, 1890s. The bridge first opened in 1881 and was replaced in 1901.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022 (R-FH Retro Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1885.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with steamship passing through, 1910s. Back then the bridge tender was paid $60 per month.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1952.

New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 2022 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1909. The bridge lasted from 1901 to 1950.

Rumson-Sea Bright bridge is beyond a densely packed western Sea Bright, 2022.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901. Around the time of its opening.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge nearing completion, 1949. The $1.4 million span was designed by Morris Goodkind, a notable civil engineer, and built by Ole Hansen & Sons. The borough spent $45,500 to acquire land around the bridge necessary for construction.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (l) under construction, 1950 (Dorn’s Photo). The old 1901 span is to the south.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge amidst the two cranes that will built the new $130 million bridge, July 2022.

SS Little Silver near the Rumson-Sea Bright bridge, 1918.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Feb. 2022. Officially it’s the “Shrewsbury River Bridge.”

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with steamship Wilbur Heisley passing through, 1885.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge opens for boat traffic, December 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (at top), November 2021.

“Reflection of an Old Friend, Sea Bright Bridge 2021” by Mary Connell Gaynor.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (r) aerial image, 1920s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s (Brown Brothers Photo). The image is taken from Packer’s Railroad Park which was located where the former Dunkin’ Donuts is today. This “swing-bridge” opened in June 1901 and lasted 50 years.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge postcard, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Seabright Beach Club, 2016.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge painting by Mary Connell Gaynor.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s. View is from Rumson into SB.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge and beach clubs, 2021 (AfterRain Photo).

Trouble-Maker — Just over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at 1 Rumson Road was the home of James Allgor, who put up a “Spite Fence” so travelers could see his “socialist rants,” 1910. He was placed in a mental institution in 1915.

More Details — The James Allgor fence case, Newark-Star Eagle, September 1910.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge entrance, 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Robert Tyler Breckenridge Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.

Steamship passes through the Rumson-Sea Bright swing bridge, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 2019.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2017.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. Painting by Joe Bergholm.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1950s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking into Rumson, 1930s.

Sea Bright aerial image looking south, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, early 1950s.

Sea Bright aerial image, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1875.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking into Rumson, early 1900s.

View into Rumson from the bridge, early 1900s.

Sketch proposal for new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1900. The builder was the American Bridge Company.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

“Spite Fence” on the Rumson side of the bridge, 1910. The property was owned by James M. Allgor, who ended up in the state insane asylum in Trenton. He died in 1934.