Route 72 Bridge Work Restarts This Week After Summer Break: NJDOT

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Summer has come to an end and with it, it brings the return of the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridges project. Work will restart on Sept. 9 in Stafford, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT).

On that day, Marsha Drive North will be closed between Route 72 and East Bay Avenue, and will continue to be closed for several months.

In addition, work on Long Beach Boulevard is scheduled to resume on Thursday, Sept. 12, and work on 8th and 9th Streets is scheduled to resume on Monday, Sept. 16.

Here's what drivers need to know, courtesy of the DOT:

Marsha Drive Closure, Monday, Sept. 9

Beginning at 7 a.m. Sept. 9, Marsha Drive North between Route 72 and East Bay Avenue is scheduled to be closed and detoured for several months. The closure is necessary to replace a 72-inch diameter culvert that runs under Marsha Drive. The Route 72 westbound jughandle for U-turns and access to Beach Haven West will remain open. Marsha Drive North between Route 72 and East Bay Avenue is expected to reopen in early 2025. The following detours will be in place beginning at 7 a.m. Sept. 9:

Route 72 eastbound to Marsha Drive northbound detour:

• Motorists traveling on Route 72 eastbound will be directed to go through the traffic signal at Mill Creek Road and take the exit for Mill Creek Road North/Manahawkin Business District/U and Left Turns
• Stay right to cross Route 72
• Follow Mill Creek Road
• Turn right onto East Bay Boulevard

Route 72 westbound to Marsha Drive northbound detour:

• 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

OR

• Motorists traveling on Route 72 westbound may continue on Route 72 westbound
• Turn right onto Mill Creek Road
• Turn right onto East Bay Boulevard

In late September, work is expected to restart on Route 72 at the Marsha Drive intersection to complete median improvements. NJDOT will provide advance notice of any lane closures or changes in roadway configuration.

Long Beach Boulevard work resumes Thursday, Sept. 12

Beginning at 7 a.m. Sept. 12 until 3:30 p.m., and again on Friday, Sept. 13 at the same times, work is expected to resume on Long Beach Boulevard with a lane closed for drainage work between 9th Street and 8th Street.

8th Street and 9th Street work resumes Monday, September 16

Beginning at 7 a.m. Sept. 16, work on 8th Street is expected to resume with the right lane closed for drainage work beginning at Long Beach Boulevard and proceeding west to Shore Avenue.

Beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, and again on Sept.17 at the same times, work on 9th Street is expected to resume with lane closures for overnight drainage work near 9th Street Local (from Shore Avenue to 9th Street) and the U-turn from 8th Street to 9th Street.

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, about 3,000 feet of Route 72 (locally known as 8th and 9th Streets) and three cross roads (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. This is expected to be done by the end of 2025. For more information NJDOT developed a project-specific website.