Route 71 resurfacing contract to resume
in Monmouth County
Construction restricted during summer months
on important shore route
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced that the $9.2 million resurfacing project to improve Route 71 through more than a dozen towns in eastern Monmouth County will resume construction operations next week, beginning in Deal Borough.
NJDOT restricts construction on shore routes in the summer, which could impact local businesses and residents during the important tourist season.
In March 2012, NJDOT’s contractor, Stavola Contracting Co., began the project in at Sea Girt Avenue (milepost 1.7) in Sea Girt and progressed north through Spring Lake Heights, Wall, Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea before shutting down construction for the summer.
Beginning the week of September 10, the contractor will shift the construction effort to address an approximately 6.2-mile stretch of Route 71 from just north of Darlington Road (milepost 10.5) in Deal through Ocean Township, Long Branch, West Long Branch and Oceanport to the northern terminus of the highway at Route 35 (milepost 16.7) in Eatontown. This work is expected to continue through the winter into early-spring 2013.
Upon completion of that section of highway, the contractor will finish the project in Bradley Beach to just south of Stockton Avenue (milepost 7.5) in Ocean Grove (Neptune Township).
Route 71 carries one travel lane in each direction with outside shoulders of varying width through the project limits. NJDOT will maintain one lane in each direction during daytime hours, with traffic shifts utilizing the existing shoulders. Resurfacing operations will require overnight single lane closures on Route 71 with alternating traffic patterns between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day.
New image detection cameras will be installed at certain intersections to replace the existing, underground loop detectors. These cameras are linked to traffic signals and help maximize the capacity of the highway by detecting vehicles waiting to enter or cross Route 71 and activate a signal sequence. Upgraded curbing, ADA-compliant curb ramps, roadway striping and guide rail will also be provided throughout the project limits. The project, designed in-house by NJDOT engineers, is scheduled for completion in late-spring 2013.
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 www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.
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