Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge Images
Gateway to the Jersey Shore …
Since the first bridge opened in 1872, a total of four river crossings have connected Sea Bright and Highlands over the past 150 years. Today’s colossal and modern structure is part of Route 36, the NJ state highway that spans the Shrewsbury River.
H-SB Bridge
Sight lines for this water crossing — shadowed by the majestic Twin Lights lighthouse some 250–feet above in Highlands — have always been grand. Officially it’s called the “Captain Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge” dedicated in May 2011 to honor the longtime NJ state legislator, US Navy officer, and Bayshore businessman and advocate.
It’s an enormous leap from the first crossing. Opened in December 1872, the first bridge was an 18-foot-wide wooden structure built for $3,500. Called the “Walking Bridge,” it was used mainly by people and horses and lasted only a few years.
The second river-crossing, a wood-steel swing drawbridge, opened in July 1878. It would prove sturdy and popular — accommodating train, auto, horse, and foot traffic during its 60-years. In the early 1890s the bridge was converted from a hand-powered to steam-powered opening. It was also redesigned — a “criss-cross” section was added allowing for direct transport to the booming Highland Beach resort (all rail service ended in December 1948). Longtime bridge-tenders were Richard Mount and Charles Kohlenbush. There was also a toll to cross that bridge.
A third connection — labeled the “Million-Dollar Bridge but truly about $650,000 — opened in September 1933; with a NJ Governor and US Senator in attendance. Financed by the Monmouth County freeholders and built by Seeds & Derham of Philadelphia, it included a four-lane highway. Known as “the Highlands Bridge,” the concrete and steel, 1,200-foot drawbridge, with a 35-foot clearance lasted 75+ years. A November 1931 Red Bank Daily Register editorial advocating for the new bridge called the old one the “worst in the nation,” according to an army engineer. The newspaper also called the new bridge “an avenue to many other roads” at the shore.
In addition to all the local traffic through the decades, the bridge has shuttled across an uncounted number of walkers, runners, bikers, and surfers seeking out a beach view or a beach day. Plus the millions, on millions of Sandy Hook visitors who have crossed its planks. It lasted all the way until 2009.
The current fourth bridge is 75-feet high and made of concrete and steel, and thankfully, has a fixed span above the water. The NJ DOT managed the project — McNary Bergeron & Johannesen did the design and J.H. Reid General Contractor did the construction.
The massive and majestic $138 million structure opened in stages and was fully completed in May 2011. That year the work was recognized for its design and construction excellence earning the “Project of the Year Award” from the American Society of Civil Engineers, NJ Section.
• Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Images — HERE
Off the Hook — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2025.
Golden Gate — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2025.
All That Stuff — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge and Sandy Hook Bay, June 2025 (Brian Allen Photo).
Shore Door — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, July 4, 2024. The impressive bridge design includes two 1,600-foot-long spans set on nine double-pillars.
Over the River — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s.
Open Up — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2005. The old drawbridge was just 35-feet above water and had to open regularly to accommodate taller vessels on the river.
Off the Docks — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1980s.
Railroad History — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge area map, 2025.
Have a Bite — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s. Horan’s Snack Stand on Highlands, NJ side.
Cold Front — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, January 2025. Officially, the “Captain Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge” dedicated in May 2011.
Over There — The Twin Lights of Highlands seen from the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, late 1880s.
Jersey Shore Gateway — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2024.
Twin Lights — Seen from the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Fogged In — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2003 (Stanley Kosinski Photo).
Old Bridge — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960s.
Ancient Crossing — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1890s.
Way Back — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910s.
Overhead — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, Summer 2024 (John Schneider Photo).
Bridge & Boats — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Sept. 2024 (Bella Beachy Photo).
Over the River — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2024 (Rich Salls Photo).
Toward Twin Lights — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1892.
Shore Gateway — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, April 2024. Seen from Off the Hook restaurant & bar in Highlands — MORE INFO.
Long Stretch — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960.
Overcast Occasion — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, October 2019 (Donald Cross Photo).
By the Wall — Sea Bright seawall heading to the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, April 2024 (Rich Romano Photo).
Come on Over — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2015.
Big Picture — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2010s.
Back Then — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1990s.
Old & New — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridges, 1930s.
Way Back Then — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907. Access came via auto and train back then.
Snow Scene — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge looking east, 1890.
High Lights — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Spring 2002 (Stanley Kosinski Photo).
Long Shot — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge is at right, 1950s.
Atlantic Heights — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 1933 (Michael McCann Photo).
Winter Time — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Winter 1979.
See the Light — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at sunrise, February 2023.
Merry Christmas! — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, December 2023 (Eric Decibus Photo).
All the Angles — In the grand image are the Highland Beach Bamboo Room, the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge opened and the Twin Lights lighthouse, 1940s (Susan Gardiner Photo).
New Century — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 1960.
From Highlands — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.
Other Side — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge on the Highlands side, 1910s.
Up There — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 2020s.
Criss-Cross Connection — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1892.
Twin Lights Sights — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 1906.
Smart Art — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge painting by Ronnie Jackson (CarvinArt).
Cut Off — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge during Nor’easter storm, December 1992 (Timothy Boulous Photo).
Oncoming Traffic — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1918.
Moon Glow — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, November 2023 (Jacki Dickert Photo).
Open Up — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 1995.
Atlantic Looks — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2023 Stanley Kosinski Photo).
At Dawn — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Fall 2023 (Ravi Sarma Photo).
Come On Over — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, October 2023.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1890s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s. Note the Twin Lights in the hills of Highlands.
“Highlands of the Navesink,” 1872. Granville Perkins engraving.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, late 1980s (David Enny Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1890s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1917.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1968.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge sketch, 1940s.
Draw Bridge at Highlands of Navesink, NJ”
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1990 (Stanley Kosinski Photo).
Open Up — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Red Bank Register, August 1974.
Taking the Dive — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Red Bank Register, August 1974.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s (Walt Guenther Photo). In front is “Bridge Beach” in Highlands.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s (Rich Galiano Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1870s. When it was a walking wooden overpass.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1985.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1909.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1954.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1932.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2010s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020 (Bartlett Lentini Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 1887 (Marriott C. Morris Collection).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 1887 (Marriott C. Morris Collection).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1912.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020. Officially, it’s the “Captain Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge.”
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge sketch, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, March 2023 (Diane Elvira Norgord Loux Photo).
View of Highlands from Sea Bright, 1875. At far right is the first walking bridge built in 1872.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Spring 2020 (Avicorp Capital Aviation Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Spring 2022 (Walt Bilous Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Spring 2008. Breaking ground for a new bridge to the right (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2010s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, about 1960 (John Schneider Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, 1932 (Rick Geffken Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1906.
Grand Times — Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1899. Standing in the Highlands foreground are workers for Guglielmo Marconi, who was in the area inventing wireless communication.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1990s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940s.
New Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, early 1930s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from the Highlands side, 1900. Note the seashore mansions in Sea Bright and Highland Beach beyond the bridge.
Train passing over the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge: “Cold Sweat” by Ronnie Jackson, 2009 — MORE INFO.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at sunset with the NYC skyline glowing in the background, December 2022 (Ed Moldaver Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Thanksgiving Weekend 2022 (Marianne Hoff Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, January 2023 (Kevin Dunwoodie Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge with a Central Railroad of NJ train crossing, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, March 2023 (Angel Rodman Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge with Twins Lights in the Highlands hills, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Highlands, Fall 2021.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Winter 2021 (Brian Allen Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020 (John Schneider Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge area under a moon glow, November 2022 (Steve Scanlon Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at dawn, October 2022 (Dawn Abbey Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Fall 2022.
SS Little Silver passing through the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, 2009.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, February 2022 (MAC Photography).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1970s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ postcard, 1960s. Showing the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at the top connected to NJ State Highway Route 36 going north through the Bayshore.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1890s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge looking at Twin Lights, early 1900s postcard.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2006.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1883.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1990s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge and Twin Lights above, 2022 (Stanley Kosinski Photo).
From Sandy Hook looking south to the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960.
The new “million-dollar” Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from the Highlands side, 1936.
Jersey Shore Gateway — Motorists head southeast on Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2022.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. A “bird’s eye” view.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge looking at Twin Lights, 1907.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Highlands, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge with a peek at the NYC skyline, August 2022.
The SS Albertina paddle-boat passing through the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, July 1888. The boat — a flat-bottomed, side-wheeler — was owned by Merchants Steamboat Company (formed in in December 1880). The boat was destroyed in a May 1932 fire. The borough of Fair Haven, NJ uses an Albertina image in its town seal.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Highlands, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
View of the Highland Beach resort from the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1920s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2016 (StansPhotos). Officially, it’s the “Captain Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge.”
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1980s.
Highlands seen from Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2022.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1975. Taking the leap.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907.
Johnson’s Pharmacy on the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910. Grandin Johnson was the “enterprising druggist.” Born in Howell in 1877 and a New York College of Pharmacy graduate, he also bought the Sea Bright Pharmacy in 1918. He confessed to embezzling $11,000 from Highlands in 1939 — where he’d been the tax collector for 32 years. He died in Trenton State prison in 1940.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1890s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge in the distance, June 2022 (Capture808 Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, May 2022 (NJ Aerial Views Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1990s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1987.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge and Twin Lights, 1960s postcard.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Spring 2022 (Walt Bilous Photo). Seen from Twin Lights.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1988.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from a Highlands window, March 2022 (Capt. Gary Dunzelman Photo).
“Highland Lights” and the “Walking Bridge” in 1872.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge (upper left), 1930s. Also a busy Sandlass Baths beach club.
Steamship passing through the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1895.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge looking east at Highland Beach, Summer 1907.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge postcard, early 1900s.
View of the Navesink Twin Lights from Sea Bright prior to bridge construction, before 1872. The lighthouse with non-identical towers opened in 1862.
View of Twin Lights from bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940s. Seen from Highland Beach.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1870s. The first bridge connecting Sea Bright and Rumson was made of wood and was for foot traffic and horses.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, F. W. Beers map 1873.
Night Vision: Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022 (Stanley Kosinski Photo).
From the H-SB Bridge and beyond — Sandy Hook aerial image, December 2021 (Brain Allen Photo).
SS Little Silver passing through the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge crossing, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, November 2021 (Brian Allen Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge and Sea Bright seen from Twin Lights in Highlands, Fall 2021.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, Fall 2021.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1920s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge sketch, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Twin Lights, 1900.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge beginning construction, mid-1930s. It was called the “Million Dollar Bridge.”
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s (Les Horner Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1900.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge on the Highlands side, 1900.
SS Thomas Patten passes through the open Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1920s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2018 (StansPhotos).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1980s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2014 (MAC Photography).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge with World War I monument on the Highlands side, 1937.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020 (John Schneider Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Chris Capone Photo).
NYC skyline seen from the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020 (Capture808 Photography).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Capture808 Photography).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2012.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge looking east, 1907.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge sketch. Long Branch Daily Record, July 1951.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Capture808 Photography).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2012.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020 (Breckenridge Visuals).
Twin Lights viewed from Sea Bright, Owen Melody painting, 1991.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, 2009.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge — with a Twin Lights sentinel. (Stanley Kosinski Photo), 2019.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge stretches into the Hartshorne Woods Heights and the night, 2020.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge after a snow, 2019.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1871 (note the horse crap on the bridge).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at sunset, 2020 (StansPhotos.com).
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. (Bart Lentini Photography)
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020. (Bart Lentini Photography)
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge in the distance, 2020.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2015.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge at night, 2010s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. (Gregory Coraggio Photo)
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, July 4, 2019.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2010.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1966.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1961.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1954.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1953.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1920s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1920s.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1906.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, 1895.
Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
