TRENTON – Motorists will see a traffic shift starting 7 a.m. Dec. 19 as the Route 72 Manahawkin Bay Bridge project continues.
NJDOT said Route 72 will be restriped until noon to shift traffic from the north side to the south side outside lane of the Hilliards Thorofare Bridge. There will be one lane of traffic in each direction in the work zone. NJDOT officials said the shift will permit the reconstruction of the median on the trestle bridge.
The new westbound bridge is expected to reopen to traffic in early 2019. The second lane in both directions should be open ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and remain open for the summer, officials said.
The $312 million project began in 2013 and will continue through 2021.
Stafford on the mainland and Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island will be linked by the completed three-mile causeway.
Work may be delayed by weather and other factors. For the most up-to-date information, motorists should visit 511nj.org.
