Updated: Irene's Effects Being Felt on Toms River Roads

Update, 2 p.m. Tuesday: Motorists now can travel through the intersection at West Water and Iron streets, as a detour has been removed and the traffic light restored.

Update, 1 p.m.: Extensive flooding of the Winding River has forced the closure of the jughandle at Hospital Drive and Route 37 westbound.

Traffic is backing up along Route 37 as motorists deal with the inconvenience, one of many found throughout downtown Toms River today. Motorists are instead being routed to the Cardinal Drive jughandle.

Ambulances trying to access Community Medical Center have to make a left turn from Route 37.

Traffic flow is impeded as authorities deal with downed trees, drooping power lines and residual flooding.

Police cones currently block travel along at least two different sections of Route 527, and multiple detours are in place along the Route 37/Route 527 corridor. Furthermore, non-functioning traffic lights are creating travel difficulties for those accessing Route 166 and Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard.

Power lines currently are hanging over the intersection of Clement Lane and Lakehurst Road (527), with cones in place to divert traffic to the shoulder in the northbound lane of travel. The lines appear to be compromised by a downed utility pole on nearby Signal Lane. Traffic, however, was still moving along 527 as of 11:30 a.m. although slowed along Route 37, as signs warned motorists of downed wires along Lakehurst Road. Trucks are banned from accessing that stretch of 527.

Motorists traveling Route 527 toward the Winding River area of the township are encountering another problem at Oak Ridge Parkway (527) and Sands Point Drive, where southbound motorists are diverted by traffic cones onto Sands Point Drive amid debris and fallen tree limbs in the general area. Motorist moving down Sands Point Drive also are forced to make a right once they hit Oakside Drive. Utility trucks are visible on scene.

Further south, motorists also are encountering a detour at Oak Ridge Parkway and Cardinal Drive due to downed trees and power lines, although those traveling back up Cardinal are forced to make a right onto Blue Jay Drive, before encountering Route 37.

Busy Hooper Avenue hasn't been spared traffic difficulties either. Motorists coming to East Water Street will encounter a blinking traffic light, downtown.,

And the jughandle from Hooper southbound onto Fischer Boulevard is currently closed due to non-functioning traffic lights. Also, Fischer Boulevard traffic heading toward Hooper will be redirected north on Hooper only. A left turn onto Hooper south from Fischer is not possible, with cones and traffic tape redirecting traffic northbound.

Additionally, the right lane of Fischer Boulevard north between Yellowbank Road and Shore Boulevard is closed due to a fallen tree in the road.

On Cedar Grove Road and Bay Avenue, the right lane is blocked on Cedar Grove east of the intersection, as crews tend to a tree that is fallen onto a house near the intersection.

Check back with Patch for updates as they become available.