Everyone is going down the shore for the summer, and after hearing concerns from residents and Long Beach Island officials, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is giving the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridges project a little vacation.
Officials and residents raised concerns about construction increasing traffic and delaying emergency vehicles during the busy summer months.
The hiatus is planned to begin no later than July 24, according to a news release from NJDOT. Construction will begin again after Labor Day.
Luckily, construction near Martha Drive in Stafford has been completed for the season.
According to NJDOT, all lanes and sidewalks on 8th and 9th Streets, along with Barnegat Avenue, Central Avenue, and Long Beach Boulevard will be open throughout the rest of the summer, uninterrupted by State construction unless emergency work is needed.
"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," NJDOT said. "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."
NJDOT says the project is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
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. This final construction contract aims to improve safety and reduce congestion at the Marsha Drive/Route 72 intersection and in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island.
In Ship Bottom, about 3,000 feet of Route 72 and three cross roads 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.
In addition, a new storm drainage system and new outfalls will be installed in an effort to reduce frequent flooding along Route 72 and these intersections.
----------------------------------------------------
Source: NJDOT
