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

(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 ongoing construction of the new Route 36 culvert over Flat Creek.

On Tuesday morning, February 24, all Route 36 traffic will be shifted to the north side of the roadway as NJDOT completes the remaining pavement and drainage improvement work on the roadway approaches to the southern half of the bridge. NJDOT will relocate the water main under Flat Creek as well. All lanes of Route 36 traffic will remain open.

The Route 36 eastbound jug-handle to Sea Gate Avenue and Aumack Lane will be closed to traffic during this construction stage. The following detour routes will be in place during the jug-handle closure;

Route 36 eastbound traffic bound for Sea Gate Avenue will continue on Route 36 eastbound, take the Union Avenue jughandle, make a U-turn to Route 36 westbound and continue to Sea Gate Avenue.

Route 36 eastbound traffic bound for Aumack Lane will continue on Route 36 eastbound, take the jughandle for Union Avenue, turn south to Hemlock Street and proceed to Aumack Lane.

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 built at the southwest side of the bridge to in order to store floodwater during heavy storm events. The project began in November 2007 and is anticipated to be completed by December 2009.

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.