Flooding Closes Bridges In Jersey Shore Towns As Storm Wallops Coast

Significant flooding from Saturday's nor'easter has prompted the closure of bridges onto the barrier islands from Monmouth County to Cape May, authorities said.

The bridge closures are until further notice, authorities said, because of the flooding caused by the nor'easter combined with the effects of the full moon. The flooding is expected to continue through the high tide cycles Saturday evening and Sunday morning, the National Weather Service has said.

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The coastal counties are among eight that have been under a state of emergency declared Friday by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

The Tunney Bridge that carries Route 37 east into Seaside Heights is closed to traffic, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office said in an alert at 6 a.m. The Mathis Bridge, carrying traffic off the barrier island, is open.

Access to Long Beach Island has been cut off as well, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office said, with flooding forcing the closure of the Route 72 Causeway bridge in both directions.

Ship Bottom, at the base of the Route 72 bridge, was completely inundated, the sheriff's office said.

Farther north, the bridge onto Sandy Hook has been closed since about 8 a.m., officials with Gateway National Recreation Area said in a post on the park's Facebook page.

Flooding is affecting access to Atlantic City. City officials said Routes 30 and 40 are closed and multiple intersections were impassable due to inundation, including Albany Avenue at West End Avenue; Ventnor Avenue at Albany Avenue; Mississippi Avenue at Fairmount Avenue; and Melrose Avenue at Massachusetts Avenue. The Albany Avenue Bridge is closed in both directions.

"Low-lying areas on the city's north and west sides are flooded," city officials said.

The Atlantic City Expressway was open into and out of Atlantic City as of 11 a.m.

In Longport, emergency management officials said the Ocean City-Longport Bridge was being closed to incoming traffic and multiple roads were closed.

"We cannot stress this enough: please stay home and stay off the roads," Longport officials said. "DO NOT attempt to drive around barricades or through flooded roadways. If you choose to travel during these conditions and your vehicle becomes stranded, emergency personnel may not be able to safely reach you."

In Wildwood, the George Redding Bridge into the town was closed to traffic due to flooding and North Wildwood police said traffic was not being permitted into that town. In addition, the Irish Fall Festival and parade planned for North Wildwood has been canceled due to the expected ongoing storm impacts.

"We know these cancellations are disappointing, and we sincerely thank all of our vendors, participants, volunteers, visitors, and the community for their patience and understanding as we deal with the impacts of the weather," North Wildwood police said.