NJDOT advises traffic safety for Breeders Cup weekend at Monmouth Park

(Oceanport) – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today advised motorists in the Oceanport area to expect traffic delays on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 as a result of the Breeders Cup Championships at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

Commissioner Kris Kolluri reiterated NJDOT’s commitment to highway safety and encouraged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution around the racetrack area over the weekend.

“Safety is always our top priority, and we're doing everything we can to make sure motorists are able to access the Breeders Cup event safely,” said Kolluri “We are working with the local police departments and Monmouth County to ensure that traffic flows as smoothly as possible throughout the area.”

Two lanes of Route 36 will be maintained in each direction. Lane closures will be prohibited on Routes 36, 35, 18 and 71 in Monmouth County, except in case of emergency, from 6 a.m. on Friday, October 26 to 6 a.m. on Sunday, October 28.

The following traffic patterns will be in place over the weekend:

• On Friday between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Route 36 eastbound, Oceanport Avenue, Port-au-Peck Avenue and roadways crossing or near that corridor are expected to experience traffic congestion. Oceanport Avenue will be closed at this time from the Main Gate to Port-au-Peck Avenue northbound.

• On Saturday between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the same areas are expected to be congested. Oceanport Avenue will be closed from the Main Gate northbound to Port-au-Peck Avenue. In addition, patrons will use Newman Springs Road, Route 35, Sycamore Avenue in Shrewsbury into Little Silver and Oceanport Avenue into Oceanport for access to parking areas.

• On both evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the same area is expected to experience traffic delays as patrons leave the racetrack area. Oceanport Avenue will be closed to traffic from Route 36 to Port-au-Peck Avenue for exiting traffic. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use Eatontown Boulevard or Branchport Avenue. Port-au-Peck Avenue will be closed to westbound traffic at Myrtle Avenue and cross town traffic should use Asbury Avenue.

• On Saturday, the jug-handles from Route 36 to the Division of Motor Vehicles facility entrance in Eatontown will be closed to minimize traffic congestion on Route 36 westbound.

NJDOT, Monmouth County and area police departments have placed over 20 Variable Messaging Signs and message signboards along Route 36 and throughout the secondary roadways to provide traffic updates and parking information. NJDOT will provide two Emergency Service Patrol (ESP) trucks along Route 36 on Saturday to provide help to motorists.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will use VMS to advise patrons which exit to take for parking spaces. An emergency radio station operated by Oceanport Emergency Management will be broadcasting parking information on 1610AM throughout the day in the area of Monmouth Park.

Convenient transportation to and from Monmouth Park for this year’s Breeders’ Cup horse races is also available on NJ TRANSIT’s North Jersey Coast Line.

Drivers can find real-time traffic information at www.njcommuter.com.