Route 13 is a short state highway in the communities of Point Pleasant and Bay Head, New Jersey, both of which are in Ocean County.

This structure opened in 1972, but closed immediately afterward due to a failure of the lift mechanism, which was fixed by the end of the year.

The New Jersey State Highway Department felt that the bridge was structurally safe and able to support up to 20 tons (18.14 tonnes).

Beecroft speculated that the new tunnel would be cheaper to build in the long run and make things easier for emergency vehicles who would not have to deal with drawbridges.

[10] The State Highway Department considered a new tunnel for Route 13, but quickly discarded the idea by October due to excessive costs, though Beecroft would bring it up again as an option if there were a hearing.

[11] In November 1962, the State Highway Department made plans to build a new 45 feet (14 m) high fixed structure over the waterway.

However, this plan was opposed by multiple agencies and individuals because yachts would be unable to use the waterway with a fixed structure.

[12][13] However, the State Highway Department also supported an option for a 30 feet (9.1 m) high drawbridge that would accommodate yacht users and only have to be opened once in a while.

[15] More complaints came from higher officials in September 1965, when a resident of Fair Lawn drove off the temporary Lovelandtown Bridge and died.

The driver's death sparked the attention of State Senator Wayne Dumont and Point Pleasant Mayor Walter B.

[20] These plans reached the United States Army Corps of Engineers in April 1966, when they announced openings for anyone who had opposition to the project.

However, the bridge alignment changed in April to have an 80 feet (24 m) vertical clearance due to new regulations for future expansion of the canal.

[27] By December 1967, NJDOT moved test borings to the Bureau of Navigation offices to make plans for the new Lovelandtown Bridge ones.

[30] Drilling into the Point Pleasant Canal began on January 2, 1968, when NJDOT inserted borings for new bridge supports.

[31] However, by September 1968, Point Pleasant wanted to know why the $2 million set aside by the state for construction of the new bridge had been shifted to help facilitate the Aldene Plan in Union County.

This was in direct conflict with a promise by the State Highway Department in 1966, that money for the new bridge would be non-reliant on a bond issue or other strings.

[32] That meeting would be scheduled for October 8, 1968, at the offices for Goldberg in Trenton, with Mayor Brown heading out to discuss the problems.

He also noted that multiple members of the State Legislature, including Senator Hiering, along with Benjamin Mabie and John Brown of the Assembly would introduce legislation to help get funding earmarked immediately for the bridge.

Brown told the Asbury Park Evening Press that Goldberg gave them a "snow job" and would still force them to rely on the November 5 bond issue of $640 million for transportation work.

[41] However, Goldberg announced to Ocean County officials that there would be more delays in all projects besides the widening of Route 37 through Toms River until 1970.

[42] Despite the report by Goldberg, Assemblyman Brown noted in March 1969 that NJDOT was about ready to announce the advertisement for bids on a new bridge.

[45] In September 1969, the state noted that they would be ready to advertise and accept bids on the new project starting in late October 1969.

[47] This did not go according to plan as NJDOT had to file a condemnation lawsuit against James Duff, a property owner along the west side of the canal that was in the way of the new bridge.

The request was made to get a three-man panel to come to an agreement on what Duff would be paid for the property for the future western approach.

[49] Despite the plan for bid announcements on November 26, within a week of the advertising, NJDOT was in court again, this time of a property on Central Avenue in Point Pleasant owned by William Hall.

[53] Point Pleasant announced in December 1969 that they would vacate parts of Central Avenue so construction could begin on the new Lovelandtown Bridge.

[56] Residents of both communities visited a display to see the new renderings of the bridge on January 16 at the Point Pleasant Municipal Building.

[61] However, by the next week, the bridge was still being used by the dump trucks and any thought of the reroute would require changes to the contract in terms of cost.

[66] By May, the state closed parts of Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant to detour traffic off a two-block section.

[76] Numerous dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Mayor Valenti of Point Pleasant and Assemblyman Franklin Berry Jr. (R-Ocean).