Causeway bridge work not expected to hinder holiday travel to and from LBI

Local residents and family and friends from out of town are gearing up to celebrate the holiday season at the Jersey Shore. Although some people have expressed concern for traveling the Causeway Bridge due to current bridge work, local business owners want people to know that the construction is not a hindrance for anyone traveling to and from Long Beach Island.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Despite bridge work, drivers pass freely over
the Causeway Bridge to Long Beach Island.

“I commute here everyday, and I come over (the bridge) at all times depending on what I have to be doing and where, and I haven’t had any trouble. We haven’t had any traffic or concerns,” said Lori Pepenella, destination marketing director for the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce. “In fact, the events that are happening on the Island, including the shows, classes and events that the businesses seem to be doing, are rather successful. The businesses are open, and we of course have ads and messaging about how important it is to shop local and support the events and the restaurants. The response to that has been quite good,” she added.

Pepenella said the turnout for the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade, which the chamber has participated in for many years, was probably one of the best attended. Nobody was discouraged to come or turned away because of bridge traffic. All of the events, including the “White Christmas” show at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, have had “good attendance” as well, she added.

Tim Greeley, press officer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, further avowed that the bridge’s eastbound and westbound travel lanes would remain open, but said Schiavone Construction Co., the contractor currently working on the bridge, is allowed single-lane closures when necessary.

The DOT restricts construction that requires any lane closures over holiday periods. Based on those restrictions, the contractor expects to be off on Christmas and New Year’s Day but will proceed to work all other weekdays.

“One lane will always be maintained in each direction,” Greeley noted.

So far, there have not been any delays or setbacks in construction work. The contractor is in the process of creating cofferdams in the bay while also working on drainage pipes, new highway lighting and the construction of a retaining wall. Further manufacture of the retaining wall as well as the drilled shafts within the cofferdams, electrical installations, intelligent transportation systems and drainage work will continue in January.

–Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.