There's more road work to let you know about in Ocean County, but this time it's in the southern part of the county.

The NJ DOT says the Route 72 westbound shoulder will be closed as part of the East Road intersection improvement project in Stafford Township to create a work zone for drainage improvements and future culvert replacement work.

Officials say the drainage improvement work by the NJDOT's contractor Earle Asphalt Co. between the Garden State Parkway entrance and Stafford Square Shopping Center will go from 8:00 am this morning until about 4:00 pm this afternoon.

The shoulder will be closed for the duration of the project and there may be daily lane closures as necessary.

The DOT said the $8,600,000.00 federally-funded Route 72 East Road project will provide highway and signal intersection improvements to address congestion and safety concerns.

Improvements are scheduled to include the addition of a 10-foot shoulder in each direction on Route 72 between the Garden State Parkway and the Stafford Square Shopping Center, median widening, new barrier curbs, plus new traffic signals and roadway improvements at two Route 72 intersections - Roosevelt Boulevard and Doc Cramer Boulevard.

There will also be a new culvert and a revised jug handle circling a water basin from Route 72 westbound to a relocated East Road (East Road is being moved approximately 200 feet east from its current location), two new storm water basins will be constructed further down on Route 72 westbound, and West Road will be relocated east from its current location between McDonalds and Mr. Tire to a new location between Element Restaurant and Starboard Plaza.

Washington Road, located parallel to Route 72 will end at the new West Road.

Construction began this fall and is expected to be completed in late 2019.

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

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