Route 72 Eastbound traffic shift required this week on the Hilliards Thorofare Bridge

Eastbound traffic to shift for construction on the center median of the bridge

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a traffic shift on Route 72 eastbound Hilliards Thorofare Bridge to Long Beach Island as the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridges project advances. 

Beginning at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, December 19 until noon, NJDOT's contractor, George Harms Construction Co., is scheduled to restripe the Route 72 eastbound roadway in order to shift traffic from the north side to the southside outside lane of the Hilliards Thorofare Bridge, maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction through the work zone. The shift will permit the reconstruction of the median on the trestle bridge.

In early 2019, Route 72 westbound will shift from the current location on the newly constructed Eastbound bridge into a single lane over the new Westbound bridge, reopening it to traffic for the first time since it was closed for reconstruction. The second lane in both directions are each expected to be open in late spring ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and will remain open through the summer season.

Work on the $312 million Route 72/Manahawkin Bay Bridge project began in 2013 and is expected to continue through 2021. The 3-mile long causeway links Stafford on the mainland with Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island. 

As part of the project, a new bridge has been constructed parallel to the existing one over Manahawkin Bay, providing the safety of a redundant route on or off the island. The new bridge is 2,400 feet long with a vertical clearance of 55 feet over Manahawkin Bay. It currently has two lanes in each direction while the original Causeway Bridge is being rehabilitated. Ultimately, it will function as the bridge for eastbound traffic once the project is completed, with the rehabilitated original bridge carrying westbound traffic. For more information NJDOT developed a project-specific website. 

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.