Slow Down
Construction to continue until August
Coaster Photo
Construction is slowing traffic down at the entrance to Ocean Grove on Route 71.
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Construction on Route 71 at the entrance to Ocean Grove will likely continue until mid-August, said one of the projects engineers.
It looks like well be staying in this traffic pattern until the middle of August, said Charlie Beyer, a resident engineer for the state Department of Transportation (DOT).
A new drainage system is being installed directly across the street from the Wesley Grove shopping center, Beyer said. The construction, which is being overseen by the state DOT, is part of the Route 33 widening project, he said.
As a result of the roadwork being done, one lane at the main entrance to Ocean Grove has been closed off, which has some business owners upset.
It certainly doesnt help the town of Ocean Grove in the middle of summer to uproot the entranceway, said Susan Morris, the owner of Cheese on Main, located on Main Avenue.
She said that after having to deal with the townships streetscape project in Ocean Grove last summer, Morris is surprised construction is going on near the beachfront community once again this summer.
That was tough on everybody and I think this is tough on everybody, she said about the construction projects which have affected Ocean Grove the last two summers.
For those who are not familiar with that part of the township, it is difficult for visitors to find their way into Ocean Grove using backstreets, Morris said.
Beyer said the DOT recently opened up the southern entranceway to Ocean Grove (on Broadway at the intersection of Route 71 and Route 33) to provide another access route into the historic community
That should help people, Morris said about the opening of the Broadway entrance.
Beyer said the southern entranceway will be closed periodically during the construction.
He said the northern entrance to the Wesley Grove shopping plaza has been re-opened.
An arrangement has been made for township police to provide traffic control near the peak hours at the Ocean Grove Auditorium on Saturday, Beyer said.
The sites engineer said he has received a number of calls from merchants in Ocean Grove and said the DOT is trying to do everything we can to accomodate business owners.
Anything we can do for the merchants we try to do, Beyer said.
He said there was no stipulation in the contract, which was signed during February, prohibiting construction in the summer months.
The contracter has only 18 months to complete the entire project, Beyer said.
He said the DOT hopes to begin its second part of the project, which will be done in the opposite end of Ocean Grove, by September.
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