All lanes on Route 35 on the northern barrier peninsula will be open this summer. New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner (NJDOT) James Simpson told local officials Monday that the reconstruction project will be halted during the summer tourism season and will resume in September.

Simpson made the promise as part of a "listening tour" in Lavallette where he, local officials, business leaders and residents stopped by several restaurants and businesses along the stretch.

According to the NJDOT blog, Simpson told the group, "Route 35 and the many stores, shops, and restaurants in Lavallette and all along the Barnegat Peninsula are open for business this summer."

Commissioner Simpson also announced that the interchange between Route 37 and Route 35, which is the main access point onto the peninsula, has been reconstructed is expected to be completed next week.

The NJDOT offers specifics:

"The following summer work restrictions will be in place for NJDOT contractors:

Memorial Day Weekend

Work will be halted in all three sections for Memorial Day Weekend, between noon on Thursday, May 22 through noon on Tuesday, May 27.

Mileposts 0-4 in Berkeley, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, and Toms River

In this section, Route 35 is generally a divided highway, providing two travel lanes in each direction from the entrance of Island Beach State Park, extending through Berkeley, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, and Toms River. This section includes the interchange with Route 37, which has been reconstructed and is expected to be completed next week.

  •  Work on Route 35 will be suspended at noon on June 13 and will resume on September 3
  •  Work on the side streets will continue throughout the summer

 Mile posts 4-9 in Lavallette, Toms River, and Brick

In this section, Route 35 is generally a divided highway, providing two travel lanes in each direction.

  • Work on Route 35 northbound in the Lavallette Business District between Brown Avenue and Bond Avenue will be halted at noon on May 22 and will resume on September 3
  • Work on the other portions of Route 35 northbound and southbound will stop at noon on June 13 and will resume September 3
  • Work on the side streets will continue throughout the summer
  • New Jersey Natural Gas will be working in the northbound shoulder as it installs new gas lines.

Mile posts 9-12.5 in Mantoloking and Bay Head

In this section, Route 35 consists of a single roadway offering just one travel lane in each direction with shoulders. Much of this section has been reconstructed and is complete beginning at Osborne Avenue in Bay Head and heading south.

  • Work on Route 35 and all sides streets will be suspended at noon on May 22 and will resume September 3

In each section of the project, Route 35 will be completely rebuilt. The new stone-and-asphalt roadway will be two feet thick, providing a more stable road and smoother driving surface. A new storm-water drainage system for Route 35 has been designed to handle 25-year storms and will feature nine pump stations and treatment facilities to filter and purify the storm water prior to discharge into Barnegat Bay.

NJDOT has an accelerated schedule for this project to accomplish a massive amount of work in a short time frame to bring the shore back better than ever. Construction is expected to be completed in 2015."

The NJDOT provides a hot line and email address: hotline telephone number 732-230-7356; an email address: restore.nj35@dot.state.nj.us ; they'll also be provide construction updates on their website: www.nj.gov/transportation/commuter/roads/rt35reconstruction

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