New bridge brings major changes in traffic routes Traffic could be reduced by 20 percent, thanks to new span BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer TOMS RIVER - It's been more than 30 years in the making. And county and local officials are hoping that Dec. 4, the "miracle day" on which the second downtown Toms River bridge is slated to open, will go off with as few hitches as possible. But they want to warn residents and visitors of major changes in traffic patterns in the county seat's downtown area once the new $5.4 million, 153-foot span opens. "We want to get out the word that one night, it will be totally new traffic patterns," said County Engineer Ronald A. Lotrecchio at a recent press conference. "You have to forget about what you did the day before ground zero." The new two-lane bridge crosses the Toms River west of the existing Main Street bridge. It connects an extension of Herflicker Boulevard from Irons Street in Toms River to South Main Street and Route 166 in South Toms River. Officials are predicting a 20 percent improvement in traffic-choked downtown Toms River once the bridge is in use. "The goal wasn't just to change traffic patterns," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari. "It's to make a smoother commute through downtown. This is not the end-all solution. We don't want anybody to be surprised their commute has changed." One of the biggest changes involves access to Route 166 south from Main and Water streets. Motorists will no longer be able to access Route 166 southbound from Main Street. Drivers heading south on Main Street must turn right onto Water Street, left onto Irons Street, left onto Herflicker Boulevard across the new bridge and then onto Route 166 south. Other major changes include: + Traffic heading northbound on Route 166 will change from two-way to one-way over the existing bridge into the downtown area. + Motorists can no longer make a right turn from eastbound Water Street onto Route 166 south or turn left to travel north on Main Street. Drivers will be able to access Main Street by using Irons Street. + Traffic heading northbound on Route 166 will change from two-way to one-way over the existing bridge into the downtown area. Motorists will still be able to make left and right turns going northbound on Route 166. The Dec. 4 bridge opening is weather-dependent, Lotrecchio said. He noted that the average nighttime temperature that time in December is roughly 32 degrees. "We need to do this on a mild night," he said. "We need one close to 40 degrees. It has to be dry." Lucy Greene, president of the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, has been pushing for the bridge for more than 30 years. The Chamber of Commerce first discussed the need for a second bridge more than 30 years ago, back in 1975. But she never lost hope, she said. "I had to be positive about it," she said. Greene praised the freeholder board for their efforts over the years to get the bridge built. "If it weren't for the perseverance and the dedication of the freeholders, this wouldn't be taking place," she said. Members of the public can view the changes at the county engineer's office, where employees will be available to answer any questions, Lotrecchio said. "We're working on helpful hints to get from one place to another," he said. Message boards posting the new traffic patterns will be placed on Main, Water and Irons streets. Maps detailing the changes are also available at the Toms River Business Improvement District Office, the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and on the Ocean County Web site at www.co.ocean.nj.us. Construction on the new bridge, which began in October 2005, is almost finished. The span will also include a bicycle lane and a sidewalk. The funding for the bridge was included in the North Jersey Transportation Authority's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) fund. The funding from the Federal Highway Administration is administered by the state Department of Transportation.