All travel lanes of Route 35 re-opened

Project to reconstruct the highway nears completion

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that all travel lanes on Route 35 throughout the 12.5-mile reconstruction project are open and will be available this summer as the project nears completion.  

“Completely reconstructing 12.5 miles of highway and building an improved drainage system following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy was a massive undertaking,” NJDOT Commissioner Jamie Fox said. “Getting these lanes open before the busy summer season will provide a real benefit to the businesses, residents, and vacationers – not just this summer, but for many years to come.”

Route 35, which is the backbone of the Barnegat Peninsula, was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy and is being completely rebuilt.  The damage was worse than expected and this project will protect properties and infrastructure for a generation.

The $341 million project is divided into three geographic sections and began during the fall of 2013. Work has been done with an expedited schedule to complete the project as soon as possible to prevent another storm from damaging the already compromised drainage system and highway.

Contracts 1 and 3 between Berkeley and Toms River, and Mantoloking through Bay Head, as well as most of the work in Contract 2 between Lavallette and Brick has been completed and all travel lanes are open this summer. Limited work on shoulders, sidewalks, curbs, and landscaping will continue to ensure the project’s completion this fall.

Mileposts 0-4 in Berkeley, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, and Toms River
In this section, Route 35 is generally a divided highway, providing two travel lanes in each direction from the entrance of Island Beach State Park, extending through Berkeley, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, and Toms River. This section includes the interchange with Route 37.

• Roadway work in this section completed in June
• There is some sidewalk and landscaping work remaining, which may require temporary lane closures
• Five new pump stations are nearing completion and undergoing final testing

Mileposts 4-9 in Lavallette, Toms River, and Brick
In this section, Route 35 is generally a divided highway, providing two travel lanes in each direction.

• The majority of the work in this section is complete
• All side street work is complete
• No work on Route 35 northbound in the Lavallette Business District between Brown Avenue and Bond Avenue will take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day
• Work to reconstruct the right shoulder of Route 35 northbound will be broken up into three-block sections in Lavallette between Trenton Avenue and Ortley Avenue with work taking place in alternating sections. This work is expected to be complete by the end of July
• In the fall, the remaining work between Brown Avenue and Bond Avenue will be completed
• Final paving for the entire five miles will be completed in the fall

Mileposts 9-12.5 in Mantoloking and Bay Head
In this section, Route 35 consists of a single roadway offering just one travel lane in each direction with shoulders.

• Final paving was completed in April
• All drainage work is complete, including the construction and testing of four pump stations
• There is some minor sidewalk and landscaping work that will continue, but it will not affect traffic
• Vehicle detection will be added to signalized intersections that will require short time traffic shifts

Variable message signs will be used to notify motorists of all traffic pattern changes.  The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.  Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.

The Department has a robust community outreach effort that includes a hotline telephone number, 732-230-7356, and email address, restore.nj35@dot.state.nj.us for residents to pose questions or provide suggestions as work progresses.
NJDOT also has created a project-specific website that provides information on the proposed construction activity.  The site will be updated as work advances.