Frederick Gottemoeller - Bridgescape LLC

New Jersey 52 connects the mainland at Somers Point to the barrier island of Ocean City across Great Egg Harbor Bay, a two mile wide estuary of open water and low, marshy islands. The bay is lined with resort communities. The new crossing includes two high level crossings of the navigation channels at each end connected to a central island by lower viaducts skimming just high enough above the marshes to allow traffic to continue during storm tides.

In this flat marine environment the vertical and horizontal curves of the alignment are clearly visible. The curves were lengthened and combined so that the bridge forms a graceful "ribbon in space". Long spans minimize the number of piers and permit sweeping views of the bay through the bridge. A sidewalk on the bridge allows for the first time safe crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists. The piers are lighted at night with individually controllable LED fixtures that provide colored light shows for boaters and the surrounding towns.

The project also replaced the Ocean City Visitors Center with a new building on a specially constructed podium adjacent to the bridge.