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ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION

THURSDAY 04.30.15

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USA TODAY

Today

Friday

Georgian Court University

Ocean County College

THOUSANDS PROTEST IN BALTIMORE, NEW YORK CITY

PAGE 3B

Oceanic
Bridge will
see closings
into June

GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE SCANDAL

CHRISTIE ALLY
TO PLEA?

Repair work uncovered problems;

span to open for Memorial weekend
SUSANNE CERVENKA @SCERVENKA

The Oceanic Bridge needs more repairs, work that

will close the structure until mid-June.
But Monmouth County officials say they are planning the work so that it will not disrupt traffic heading
into Memorial Day weekend.
The repairs are the latest in an effort to extend the
life of the 75-year-old drawbridge until its replacement
estimated to be $100 million and about 10 years away
can be built.
Oceanic Bridge has been under repair for the past
month while crews fixed structural steel and the concrete deck. But that work uncovered deterioration in
two of the bridges four main bearings that the county
otherwise would not have been able to see, according to
Monmouth County officials.
The bearings are part of the mechanism that supports the bascule the movable part of the bridge as
well as the spans on the approach to the bridge, Monmouth County Engineer Joe Ettore said.
To make the repair, crews have to lift the bascule and
approach spans off the bearings, he said.
That means shutting down the bridge to vehicles and
pedestrians starting May 26 until June 12. The bridge
will be open to marine traffic.
Monmouth County freeholders last week approved
$653,650 for Harms Construction Co. Inc. of Howell, the
contractor hired to complete the structural steel and
concrete deck work, to make the new repairs.
Preparation work will start once materials arrive,
which is expected May 13, according to information
provided by the county. That work could require the
bridge to close from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. from May 13
to May 15 and again from May 18 to May 21.
The bridge will reopen May 22 for Memorial Day
weekend.
Traffic on Bingham Avenue between Rumson and
Middletown should travel east and north through Sea
Bright and Highlands to Middletown. Traffic on Navesink River Road and Locust Point Road in Middletown
should travel east and south through Middletown,
Highlands and Sea Bright to Rumson.
Oceanic Bridge, built in 1939, serves as an important
connector between Middletown, Rumson and the

David Wildstein

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gov. Chris Christie answers a question after an outdoor bill-signing ceremony Wednesday in New Brunswick.
Christie reiterated that he didnt know about the George Washington Bridge lane closures in advance.

Report: Wildstein to plead guilty in federal case

MICHAEL SYMONS @MICHAELSYMONS_
AND BOB JORDAN @BOBJORDANAPP
TRENTON David Wildstein, who allegedly orchestrated the 2013 lane closures at the George
Washington Bridge, will reportedly plead guilty
to federal charges this week.
Bloomberg reported Wildstein is scheduled to
plead guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Newark to a charging document known as a criminal
information. It reported that the plea had originally been scheduled for today but was moved.
Wildstein was Gov. Chris Christies secondhighest-ranked staffer at the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey. The fallout from the
week of intentional, crippling traffic jams severely damaged Christies political aspirations.

The reason for the traffic jams remains unclear, but emails have suggested that Wildstein
and former Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly were seeking to punish Fort Lees
mayor for not endorsing Christie in the 2013 election.
Christie, speaking with reporters at an unrelated news conference in New Brunswick, reiterated that he didnt know about the lane closures in
advance. On the prospect of Wildstein pleading
guilty, Christie said he doesnt know any details
beyond the contents of the brief Bloomberg report.
I dont expect that anythings going to be different than what I said on Jan. 9 because nothings

See BRIDGE, Page 6A

See PLEA, Page 4A

INSIDE: Christie signs two bills designed to prevent abuse of prescription drugs and opioids and takes questions from reporters in New Jersey for the first time since January. STORY, 4A

Mother: Friends need to step forward

ANDREW FORD @ANDREWFORDNEWS

Rachel Bryk didnt kill herself because she was bullied online about being transgender, according to her
mother, Lisa Bryk.
The 23-year-old from Wall was being bullied. But
thats not the only reason she walked to the middle of
the George Washington Bridge, set down her pink
purse, took off her shoes, and jumped.
Seven years ago, Bryk was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, her mother said. It
left her in great pain.
It feels like if youve been in the boxing ring with a
bunch of heavyweight champs and theyre just pound-

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ASBURY PARK PRESS FILE PHOTO

ing on you all over, her mother said. Everything

hurts and nothing makes it better. It makes you extremely tired.
Suicide is a complex issue and a lot of times, we as
a society make the error of pinpointing one factor that
may have played a role in that decision to take your
own life, said Maureen Brogan, statewide coordinator for the Traumatic Loss Coalition, a program overseen by Rutgers University.
She warned against oversimplifying the cause of
suicide. There are many variables.
We will never know the risk factor that was the
See DEATH, Page 12A

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VOLUME 136
NUMBER 103

The Oceanic Bridge, seen in 2011, needs more repairs, work

that will close the structure until mid-June.

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