Route 37 Bridge Closure, Traffic Jam, Angers Many In Toms River, Brick

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Motorists in Toms River and Brick found themselves sitting in traffic as officials detoured drivers headed to Seaside Heights Saturday wheñ the Route 37 drawbridge got stuck in the open position, officials said.

It is was the third emergency closure of the Mathis Bridge this summer due to mechanical issues on the bridge, though both previous closures were shortlived.

Route 37, Fischer Boulevard, and Hooper Avenue in Toms River all were impacted by the closure, as well as Brick Boulevard and Mantoloking Road in Brick, according to authorities and witnesses.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office first announced the closure via Nixle alert shortly after 3:30 p.m. Toms River police were on the scene diverting traffic onto Fischer Boulevard.

The closure caused frustration.

"This is getting ridiculous!! Didn't you just spend millions to fix this stupid thing just a few months ago!!" One woman said on the Toms River Facebook page.

Witnesses said traffic was bumper to bumper along Fischer Boulevard and onto Hooper Avenue, as detoured traffic is forced north. Mantoloking Road was jammed as well, motorists said, as drivers worked their way to Route 35 southbound.

Authorities were forced to shift traffic to the Tunney Bridge, with one lane eastbound and two westbound lanes but police are urging motorists to take alternate routes because traffic is so badly snarled.

The Mathis Bridge was closed to motorists from late October through early May as work began on an extensive rehabilitation project, which will include replacement of the deck and extensive rehabilitation of the mechanisms to open and close the bridge.

That portion of the work has not yet been done, however.

A Department of Transportation truck crosses the Tunney portion of the Route 37 bridge, after officials opened one lane eastbound to alleviate traffic from the closure of the Mathis Bridge (the left span) into Seaside Heights on Saturday. Photo by Megan Wall