Route 37 lane closures announced on bridges
over Barnegat Bay
Traffic signal structure repairs and ongoing bridge painting work require sustained closures
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced a series of scheduled lane closures on the Route 37 bridges over the Barnegat Bay in Ocean County.
Beginning on Thursday, February 16, NJDOT’s contractor, I.E.W., will require daily single and double-lane closures between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the Route 37 eastbound Thomas A. Mathis bridge to repair the steel structure that supports the traffic signal located prior to the drawbridge. A temporary traffic signal will be utilized while the repairs are made. This work is anticipated to be complete the first week of March.
On Tuesday, February 21, a permanent closure of the right and periodic closures of the center lane on the Route 37 westbound Albert Tunney bridge will be required for a separate, ongoing project to repaint both Route 37 bridges as well as the Pelican Island bridge at the eastern end of the causeway. These lane closures are expected to remain in place on the westbound bridge until mid-March.
Route 37 normally carries three lanes of traffic in each direction over the Barnegat Bay, connecting Toms River to Seaside Heights.
Bridge painting work will continue on the eastbound structure after the traffic signal repairs are complete. That work is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2012.
Painting is an important element to maintaining the structural integrity of a bridge.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are also encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website for construction updates and real-time travel information.
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