If Friday afternoon's traffic is any indication of things to come this weekend, the final leg to Long Beach Island on Route 72 is going to be a long one.
Traffic gridlock and bottle necking is due to construction on Route 72 at the Garden State Parkway overpass, as construction on the overpass has narrowed the roadway right where the off ramp is for the GSP South and on ramp for GSP North.
The other major “hot spot” is at the LBI Causeway and beyond as the bridge replacement project is under way on the connector from Manahawkin to LBI. The project will replace the entire Causeway with work ongoing until an estimated completion date in 2020.
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The main area of concern now to police and municipal officials on both sides of the bridge is the access roadway between the Causeway and the shorter bay bridge by Cedar Bonnet Island.
Both inbound and outbound traffic are now using the former outbound-only roadway, as the inbound and wide median are now the staging point for the construction equipment and material.
Drivers should use extra caution here as the road narrows and the inbound flow is closed in with concrete barriers as it is merged on to the shared outbound roadway.
The U-turns and turn off for Cedar Bonnet Island are still there, but those using them are now exposed to the oncoming traffic.
Stafford Police are on duty on the side roads, such as Jennings Road and Mill Creek leading up to bridge, to ensure vehicles are proceeding safely through these residential neighborhoods.
On Friday afternoon, East Bay Ave. was backed up to Hilliard Boulevard, as motorists looked to avoid Route 72 until the last minute.