All Route 35 lanes open for summer

All lanes of Route 35 are open for the rest of the summer in the 12.5 mile construction zone between Berkeley and Bay Head.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Jamie  Fox says that while the reconstruction of the Superstorm Sandy damaged highway and the drainage system  is important, “getting these lanes open before the busy summer season will provide a real benefit to the businesses, residents, and vacationers – not just this summer, but for many years to come.”

The DOT says that the much of the road work on the $341 million project has been completed for the entire work zone but some shoulder, sidewalk curb and landscaping remains which could temporarily close a lane.

In a statement the DOT gave progress reports on each of the 3 construction zones that make up the Route 35 project.

Berkeley to Toms River

• Roadway work in this section completed in June
• There is some sidewalk and landscaping work remaining, which may require temporary lane closures
• Five new pump stations are nearing completion and undergoing final testing

Lavallette to Brick

• The majority of the work in this section is complete
• All side street work is complete
• No work on Route 35 northbound in the Lavallette Business District between Brown Avenue and Bond Avenue will take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day
• Work to reconstruct the right shoulder of Route 35 northbound will be broken up into three-block sections in Lavallette between Trenton Avenue and Ortley Avenue with work taking place in alternating sections. This work is expected to be complete by the end of July
• In the fall, the remaining work between Brown Avenue and Bond Avenue will be completed
• Final paving for the entire five miles will be completed in the fall

Mantoloking to Bay Head

• Final paving was completed in April
• All drainage work is complete, including the construction and testing of four pump stations
• There is some minor sidewalk and landscaping work that will continue, but it will not affect traffic
• Vehicle detection will be added to signalized intersections that will require short time traffic shifts