Route 72 To Be Closed, Detoured Friday Night: NJDOT

STAFFORD, NJ — As the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridges project advances, expect Route 72 near Marsha Drive to be closed in both directions Friday night, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced.

Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15 until 8 a.m., Saturday, March 16, Route 72 is scheduled to be closed in both directions to restripe the road and install construction barrier to create a center lane work zone in both directions on Route 72 near Marsha Drive in Stafford. In addition, paving work will be done Friday night.

By Saturday morning traffic in both directions will be split with one lane shifted to the left and one lane on the right with a center work zone. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during this stage, which will mill and pave this portion of the roadway. This stage is expected to take about a month.

Both lanes on Route 72 eastbound will take traffic to Long Beach Island. Route 72 eastbound traffic going to Morris Drive must use the right lane.

Both lanes on Route 72 westbound will take traffic into Manahawkin. Route 72 westbound traffic going to Marsha Drive must use the right lane.

The following detours will be in place Friday night, March 15:

• Motorists traveling on Route 72 eastbound will be directed to take the Mill Creek Road South/Beach Haven West exit
• Follow Mill Creek Road
• Turn left onto Jonathan Drive, which becomes Jennifer Lane
• Turn left onto Morris Boulevard
• Turn right onto Route 72 eastbound

• Motorists traveling on Route 72 westbound will be directed to take the Bay Avenue exit immediately after the bridge
• Turn left onto East Bay Avenue/CR 50
• Turn left onto Mill Creek Road
• Turn right onto Route 72 westbound

This work is part of the Contract 1A & 1B, of the Route 72/Manahawkin Bay Bridge project. This final construction contract is designed to improve safety and reduce congestion in Stafford at the Marsha Drive/Route 72 intersection and in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island. In Stafford, Marsha Drive will be widened to provide double left turn lanes onto Route 72, and a third lane will be added on Route 72 in both directions near the intersection.

In Ship Bottom, approximately 3,000 feet of Route 72 (locally known as 8th and 9th Streets) and three cross streets (Barnegat Avenue, Central Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard) will be widened. Two-way traffic will be restored along Central Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. Five traffic signals will be reconstructed, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of 8th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. In addition, a new storm drainage system and new outfalls will be installed in an effort to reduce frequent flooding along Route 72 and these intersections. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. For more information go to the NJDOT project website.