Ocean City Causeway Opens In Time For Summer

OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) -- Drivers headed into Ocean City will finally be getting some traffic relief, just in time for the start of the summer season.

Since Labor Day, traffic on the 9th Street bridge – the main route into Ocean City – has been squeezed into just one lane in each direction while construction on a brand new causeway continues.

But on Friday, New Jersey officials will open part of a new bridge on the Ocean City side for the first time. Two lanes of Ocean City bound traffic will use that new bridge, while two lanes of outbound traffic will use the old drawbridge. The new bridge is much taller than the drawbridge, which means in-bound motorists will not have to stop for ship traffic.

It is one of the biggest milestones so far in the six-year, $400 million reconstruction project.

"It's about time," said Ocean City resident Ralph Wickersham. "They've had this closed [completely] a couple of times now."

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed," said Beverley Gill.

Gill needs more traffic – business traffic. Her shop, Island Beach Gear, is one of the first businesses on 9th Street once drivers cross into Ocean City, but all winter both lanes of 9th Street on her side of the street have been shut down.

"It's been hard for the customers to get into my store," she said. "Unless they knew how to get here, they couldn't come in. One day this winter, I deposited $2.60."

"It's been an interesting process," said Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian. "A little bit of pain, but it's going to be spectacular!"

Mayor Gillian says the causeway replacement project is running about six months ahead of schedule and should be completely finished by next May.

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Reported by Ben Simmoneau, CBS 3