MANAHAWKIN – After local officials, businesses and residents of Southern Ocean County raised concerns about its ongoing construction, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridge project will go on a summer hiatus.
Beginning July 24, the area will be uninterrupted by State construction unless emergency work is needed.
All lanes and sidewalks on 8th and 9th Streets, as well as Barnegat Avenue, Central Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard will be open throughout the remaining seven weeks of the summer.
According to officials, work near Marsha Drive in Stafford has already been completed for the season.
Construction is anticipated to resume after Labor Day, on or about September 11.
“NJDOT has been working with the contractor and the town to develop an adjusted schedule to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible. The project schedule was affected by utility work delays and the discovery of some contaminated soil on 8th Street that required environmental permitting and remediation before the project could proceed. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024,” NJDOT said in a press release.
Route 72 in Manahawkin (Photo by Jason Allentoff)
The project is designed to improve safety and reduce congestion in Stafford at the Marsha Drive/Route 72 intersection and in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island.
In Stafford, Marsha Drive will be widened to provide double left turn lanes onto Route 72, and a third lane will be added on Route 72 in both directions near the intersection, officials said.
In Ship Bottom, approximately 3,000 feet of Route 72 (locally known as 8th and 9th Streets) and three cross roads (Barnegat Avenue, Central Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard) will be widened. Two-way traffic will be restored along Central Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard.
Five traffic signals will be reconstructed, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of 8th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, officials said.
Additionally, a new storm drainage system and new outfalls will be installed in an effort to reduce frequent flooding along Route 72 and these intersections.
“As a reminder, even with all lanes open and construction halted for the summer, there is always an increase in traffic this time of year at the Shore. Motorists should plan extra travel time, expect delays, and exercise patience,” NJDOT said
Drivers can check NJDOT’s traffic information website 511nj.org for real-time travel information.
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