A heads up for Ocean County drivers starting tomorrow, the NJ DOT will be closing lanes on Route 166 between Route 37 and Old Freehold Road to move barriers, re-strip the roadway and re-open James Street in Toms River.

The work by the NJDOT's contractor, New Prince Concrete, starts up around 10:00 pm on Thursday night and is expected to be finished by 6:00 am on Friday morning.

There is a work zone in the northbound lanes at the moment and the DOT says that after the shift is in place, there will be a center work zone with a single outer lane in each direction allowing drainage system improvements to be expedited and the construction of a center median.

Access to residential properties will be maintained at all times, the DOT said, and
access to commercial properties will be maintained during normal business hours.

This is all apart of the $11,700,000 state-funded Route 166 intersection safety improvements project that will upgrade the intersection of Route 166 with Route 37 by installing a raised median barrier between opposing traffic, improve the roadway geometry, make traffic signal improvements between Highland Parkway and Old Freehold Road, and widen the roadway by constructing a new through lane on Route 166 northbound and southbound.

The project will also make drainage improvements, construct a retaining wall along the west side of Route 166 adjacent to the Dover Mall redevelopment and install additional sign structures.

The project began in March 2016, was suspended for several months in 2017 due to the TTF shutdown and is expected to be completed this winter.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

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