** MEDIA ADVISORY **

Middletown-Lincroft Road to Close to Facilitate Emergency Repairs

Work on a damaged GSP bridge warrants the shutdown of the County road

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – Middletown-Lincroft Road between West Front Street and Nut Swamp Rd. / Dwight Rd., will be closed to traffic beginning tomorrow morning, Saturday, November 4, in order to facilitate the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s emergency repairs to a Garden State Parkway bridge that was struck by a excavator being hauled on a flatbed truck yesterday afternoon. The road will reopen as soon as the Turnpike Authority indicates they have completed their repairs.

Closing Middletown-Lincroft Road allows the Turnpike Authority to address the structural damage to their bridge in a safe and efficient manner.

The previously scheduled resurfacing work, which began on Red Hill Road between Everett Road and Dwight Road this past Monday, will be completed overnight tonight and the road reopened prior to the closure of Middletown-Lincroft Rd. tomorrow. This coordination of closures is critical to mitigating traffic congestion in the area prior to the Monday morning rush hour.

“The County Public Works and Engineering Department is working closely with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in order to ensure the Authority can complete the necessary repairs to their bridge,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Monmouth County Public Works and Engineering Department. “We completely understand that road closures can be disruptive to motorists but rest assured these measures are being taken in order to provide a safe traveling environment for drivers and a protected work zone for the engineering crews. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

The Red Hill Road resurfacing work is continuing this evening and cannot be suspended because the roadway is partially milled and it is difficult for drivers to have the blacktop in that state for an extended period of time due to the rough surface. Repaving work needs to take place while temperatures are above freezing since asphalt plants normally close after Thanksgiving due to the colder weather.

###