Overview
The Route 72 Causeway
in Ocean County, New Jersey
connects Long Beach Island
with the mainland, carrying traffic
over the Intracoastal
Waterway
on the Manahawkin
Bay Bridge and three
trestle bridges.
It is located in
Stafford Township
and Ship Bottom Borough.
Major
improvements are
needed to maintain
this vital lifeline
for Long Beach Island
residents and visitors.
The Route 72 Manahawkin
Bay Bridges Project
involves the construction
of a new structure
parallel to and south
of the existing Manahawkin
Bay Bridge, rehabilitation
of the existing Manahawkin
Bay Bridge, and the
rehabilitation of
three trestle bridges
over Hilliards Thorofare,
East Thorofare, and
West Thorofare. Other
planned improvements
include:
- A six-foot sidewalk
on the westbound
(north) side of
Route 72, with
connections to
communities and
points of interest
on the south side
of the roadway;
- Bicycle accommodations,
including wider
outside shoulders
on the twin Manahawkin
Bay Bridges and
five-foot bike
lanes on the trestle
bridges;
- Improvements
to the intersection
of Route 72 and
Marsha Drive in
Stafford Township
to alleviate seasonal
traffic delays;
and
- Intersection
improvements in
Ship Bottom, designed
to improve traffic
flow for both north/south
traffic on Long
Beach Island and
along 8th and 9th
Streets, and drainage
improvements to
improve access
during heavy rainfalls
and high tides.
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Initially a Feasibility Assessment
was completed in 2007 to
evaluate a variety of alternatives.
During the Preliminary
Design Phase, an Environmental
Assessment (EA) was prepared
for this project and the
Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) has approved
a Finding
Of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) (pdf
683k).
The project has avoided
environmental impacts to
the maximum extent practicable,
however, some mitigation
will still be required.
A mitigation plan will
be developed in coordination
with regulatory agencies
during the permitting phase
of the project.
The project may also provide
opportunities for the New
Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) to improve public
access to the waterfront,
including areas for fishing
and crabbing. Restoration
of the "String
of Pearls" lighting that
formerly graced the Manahawkin
Bay Bridge is also planned
on both the rehabilitated
existing bridge and the
newer parallel bridge.
NJDOT will work with permitting
agencies and local communities to
develop the specific details
of these improvements. 
The "String
of Pearls"
lighting as it once looked
on the Manahawkin Bay
Bridge.
The project is currently
in Final
Design, with construction
likely to start in 2013
and continue until 2019.
Since Route 72 is vital
to the tourist economy,
four lanes of traffic
will be provided continuously
during construction in
the summer months.
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