Traffic & Transit
Route 72 To Be Closed, Detoured Overnight Again This Week: NJDOT
Further road work is in store for Route 72, which will be closed again starting Monday night and running through Thursday.
STAFFORD, NJ — Drivers on Route 72 can expect further delays this week as more road work will close the roadway overnight, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced Monday.
Beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, March 18 until 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, and continuing each night through Thursday, March 21 at the same times, Route 72 is scheduled to be closed and detoured in both directions near Marsha Drive in Stafford for paving work. This is a continuation of the work last Friday and is part of the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridges project.
The following detours will be in place overnight:
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Route 72 eastbound detour:
- 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
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the day with traffic in a new configuration in each direction; one on the left and one lane on the right separated by a center work zone. This stage is expected to take about a month to complete.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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.
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, according to the NJDOT. 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.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
