Bridge Work Shouldn't Get In Way Of LBI Vacation Plans
LONG BEACH ISLAND, N.J. (CBS) - Those of you who call the beaches of Long Beach Island your place to vacation know that New Jersey's been working on the Route 72 bridge over Manahawkin Bay for more than a year now.
But state officials say you need not worry about traffic backups on the span this summer.
Drivers can see the beginning of a new span across the bay. But crews are also working on the bridge that's now open. shoring up 16 support piers underneath.
NJDOT does not expect that work to affect regular traffic flow. Once the new bridge is complete, traffic will be shifted there. The older span -- deemed structurally deficient and functionally obsolete -- will then be rehabilitated.
By the time all this is done, which officials hope is by 2020, not only will there be two lanes on and off the island, there'll also be paths for bicycles and walkers. And should one span be closed for an accident or repairs, the other one serves as a backup.
The taxpayer cost of all this about $350-million.