Route 71 Road Closure Scheduled In Wall

WALL, NJ — The Route 71 drawbridge over Shark River between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea will be closed tomorrow and Wednesday in Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of Transportation officials announced.

From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, NJDOT’s contractor, IEW, will close Route 71 to restripe the road to implement a road diet on the bridge over Shark River. This new traffic pattern will reduce traffic on the bridge from one northbound lane and two southbound lanes to one lane in each direction.

A bike path will also be added to the bridge's shoulder in both directions.

This closure will continue on Wednesday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for testing the new drawbridge mechanical equipment and completing the restriping work.

The following detours will be in place.

Route 71 Main Street northbound from Belmar to Avon-by-the-Sea Detour:

• Motorists on Route 71 northbound will be directed to turn left onto Eighth Avenue
• Turn right on Route 35
• Continue over the Route 35/Shark River Bridge and follow signs for Avon-by-the-Sea

Route 71 Main Street southbound from Avon-by-the-Sea to Belmar Detour:

• Motorists on Route 71 southbound will be directed to turn right onto Sylvania Avenue
• Stay right and take the ramp to Route 35 South/Belmar
• Take Route 35 over the Shark River Bridge into Belmar
• Turn left onto Eighth Avenue and follow to Main Street

Motorists are encouraged to look at NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.