Route 52 to return to off-season traffic pattern
One travel lane will be open between Ocean City and Somers Point

(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced that Route 52 will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction for the off-season beginning Monday evening, September 12. The new traffic pattern will be in place along the entire causeway by 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, September 13.

NJDOT has provided two lanes of traffic in each direction on Route 52 over the summer season, utilizing both the new fixed-span bridge and the existing drawbridge into Ocean City, to minimize impacts to shore residents and visitors.

Immediately following the lane reduction, NJDOT’s contractor, Route 52 Constructors, will focus construction efforts on the demolition of the old 9th Street drawbridge over Beach Thorofare into Ocean City. NJDOT will make every effort to minimize the noise impact of this demolition work. However, crews will be conducting demolition work around the clock, six days a week, for about the next month.

The Route 52 causeway replacement project, currently in the $251 million second phase of construction, provides a vital link to major Jersey Shore recreational destinations. The causeway is used by an average of 40,000 motorists daily in the busy summer season.

NJDOT planned the project in a manner that minimally impacts traffic. No detours are planned during construction. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org