A bridge that links Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar will soon close for several months of emergency repairs, officials said.

Inspectors found deterioration of the steel pinions that support the Ocean Avenue Shark River Bridge when it opens and closes, according to a statement from Monmouth County.

The bridge will close to vehicles and pedestrians after a contract is awarded in the next two weeks and repairs should be finished by mid-May - ahead of Memorial Day and the busy summer beach season. Limited marine traffic will still be allowed to pass under the bridge.

“We will work to get it done as quickly as possible to ensure that the bridge is fully operational in advance of the summer season,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, the liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering said in the statement.

Drivers and pedestrians should plan an alternate route during construction. Detour signs will be posted in the area.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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