Overnight Closure At Manahawkin Jughandle Starts Monday

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The Route 72 westbound jughandle to Doc Cramer Blvd. will be closed during nights for about two weeks. The jughandle will be closed each day from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Monday night.

New Jersey Natural Gas will close and detour the jughandle for gas main installation. The detour is before the jughandle.

Drivers wishing to exit at Doc Cramer Boulevard will be directed to exit before the street near the Stafford Square shopping center.

• Take Route 72 westbound and make a U-turn using the jughandle after West Street to Route 72 eastbound.
• Take Route 72 eastbound.
• Turn right onto General Grier Drive.
• Turn right onto McKinley Avenue.
• Continue on McKinley Avenue until it intersects with Doc Cramer Road.

The installation is part of the $11.6-million, federally funded Route 72 East Road project, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The project addresses traffic and safety concerns.

Work will include adding a 10-foot shoulder in each direction on Route 72 between the Garden State Parkway and the Stafford Square shopping center, median widening, new barrier curbs, plus new traffic signals and roadway improvements at two Route 72 intersections — Roosevelt Boulevard and Doc Cramer Boulevard.

There will be a new culvert and a revised jug handle circling a water basin from Route 72 westbound to a relocated East Road. Officials are moving East Road about 200 feet east of its current location. The project also includes installation of two stormwater basins further down Route 72 westbound.

West Road will be relocated east of its current location between McDonald's and Mr. Tire. The new location will be between Element Restaurant and Starboard Plaza. Washington Road — located parallel to Route 72 — will end at the new West Road.

NJDOT expects to complete the Route 72 East Road project late this year.

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