NJDOT announces upcoming traffic
changes on Route 36 in Hazlet and Union Beach

Drainage project at Flat Creek advances to next stage

(Trenton) – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced upcoming traffic pattern changes on Route 36 in Hazlet and Union Beach, Monmouth County. The traffic shifts are due to the construction of the new Route 36 culvert over the Flat Creek.

NJDOT will temporarily close the right northbound lane of Route 36 from Friday, October 17 at 9 p.m. through 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 18. On the following Friday night, October 24, NJDOT will temporarily close the left southbound lane from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 25 in order to shift traffic to the newly reconstructed portion of Route 36.

As of Saturday morning, October 25, all Route 36 traffic will travel on the northbound side of the roadway, establishing the new work zone on the southbound roadway. The northbound roadway will be configured to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction during this construction stage.

The $10 million project will alleviate flooding by replacing the existing culvert over the Flat Creek with a larger structure. The roadway will be raised about five feet at the culvert and will slope down to the existing grade over a length of 1,100 feet. A drainage basin has been created at the southwest side of the bridge to in order to store floodwater during heavy storm events.

The area of Route 36 surrounding Flat Creek floods several times a year, resulting in the closure of Route 36 and the detour of traffic to local roadways. The new culvert and drainage basin will help alleviate these problems.

NJDOT installed variable message signs to inform motorists of upcoming construction and traffic pattern changes. Real time traffic information is also available at www.511nj.org.