State, county and local officials are urging motorists to plan alternate routes into Seaside for Saturday's parade
SEASIDE HEIGHTS -- With thousands of people expected to flock to Seaside Heights on Saturday for Ocean County's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, state transportation officials are encouraging motorists to brace for major traffic delays - or map out an alternate route.
Construction continues on the Route 37/Thomas A. Mathis Bridge carrying vehicles into Seaside Heights from Toms River, leaving only one lane of an adjacent bridge to funnel traffic from that road onto the peninsula for the parade.
To minimize congestion over the adjacent J. Stanley Tunney Bridge heading into Seaside on Saturday, the state Department of Transportation says motorists should allow more time to get to the parade, or ideally, plan a route that doesn't involve the bridge.
No cars, trailers or parade floats exceeding 11 feet in width will be permitted on the bridge heading east into Seaside, state transportation officials said.
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Also, the jug handle to Douglas Street and Route 37 west just before the bridge in Toms River will be open only for local traffic between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Access to local businesses will remain open.
The 65-year-old Mathis Bridge is in the second of a three-year seasonal cycle of a $74 million repair project, which includes replacing the deck, making safety improvements to the barrier and railings and repairing and replacing mechanical and electrical components used to raise a section of the deck for boats.
To be completed by the summer of 2018, construction requires closing the three-lane bridge between Nov.1 and April 30 during each of the cycles. During that time, one lane of the three-lane westbound Tunney Bridge is used for eastbound traffic.
All three lanes of both bridges are open between May 15 and Sept. 15 to accommodate summer traffic.
Transportation officials recommend these alternate routes for Saturday:
From the Garden State Parkway
From the North
- Take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 98 for Route 34 South.
- Follow Route 34 South, which will become Route 35 South.
- Continue on Route 35 South over the Manasquan River Bridge and proceed for several miles.
- Route 35 South will become a two-lane roadway. Follow signs toward Seaside Heights.
From the South
- Take the Garden State Parkway north to exit 90 (Brick Township).
- Turn right onto Chambersbridge Road.
- Continue through seven traffic lights to the intersection of Mantoloking Road/CR 528.
- Turn left and follow Mantoloking Road to end.
- Turn right onto Route 35 South and proceed for several miles.
- Route 35 South will become a two-lane roadway. Follow signs toward Seaside Heights.
From the west via Interstate 195
- Head east on I-195 to Exit 35A for Route 34 South (Brielle).
- Follow Route 34 South, which will become Route 35 South.
- Continue on Route 35 South over the Manasquan River Bridge and proceed for several miles.
- Route 35 South will become a two-lane roadway. Follow signs toward Seaside Heights.
From Toms River via Hooper Avenue
- Take Hooper Avenue North.
- Turn right onto Drum Point Road and continue for 1.2 miles.
- Turn left onto Adamston Road and continue for about 1 mile.
- Turn right onto Mantoloking Road/CR 528 to end.
- Turn right onto Route 35 South and proceed for several miles.
- Route 35 South will become a two-lane roadway. Follow signs toward Seaside Heights.
From Manchester via Route 70
- Take Route 70 toward Brick Township.
- Turn right onto Cedar Bridge Avenue, which will become Mantoloking Road (CR 528).
- Follow Mantoloking Road to end.
- Turn right onto Route 35 South and proceed for several miles.
- Route 35 South will become a two-lane roadway. Follow signs toward Seaside Heights.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.