Laurel Ave. Bridge Shutdown Begins Friday: Here's How It Will Affect You

Holmdel, NJ - As Patch reported last week, Laurel Avenue under the railroad bridge will be shut down for two months starting Friday. This will affect traffic traveling through Middletown on Rt. 35 as well as Laurel Ave., Holland Road, Red Hill Road and Kings Highway, Middletown police warn.

Detour routes have been posted using either Kings Highway in Middletown or Bethany Road in Hazlet.

NJ Transit will be working on the infamous Laurel Ave. railroad bridge — which on local resident called "severely deformed" — in Holmdel for two months, but the work may take as long as three months. NJ Transit must make repairs to the damaged north girder of the bridge, which had become bent after being hit several times by trucks. The bridge must be supported on temporary bents that span the roadway in order to complete the work, forcing the entire roadway to close.

If you have to travel in the area, expect heavier-than-normal traffic, detours and traffic delays. Please follow all posted signs, and familiarize with alternate routes.