Weekend Traffic: Malfunctioning Signals Slow Route 37 Friday Night Traffic

Police are directing traffic at two major Route 37 intersections in Toms River Friday night after traffic signals began to malfunction.

As of about 8:30 p.m., officers from the Toms River Police Department are controlling the traffic flow at Vaughn and Clifton Avenues along the state highway. 

Motorists attempting to cross Route 37 on either avenue are facing delays, while those traveling along Route 37 should not be significantly impacted.

The delays come after heavy rains passed through the area this afternoon and into the evening.

Traffic signals at other cross streets such as Coolidge and Garfield Avenues and Batchelor Street are functioning normally.

Earlier today, a stalled vehicle backed up traffic on Route 37 eastbound beginning at 11:25 a.m.

The car, stuck in the center lane right before the intersection with Route 166, has caused a traffic delay that stretched back to the parkway exit portion of Route 37.

Traffic is moving slowest in the center lane as vehicles merge to the other lanes in that portion of the highway.

Elsewhere on Route 37 eastbound, traffic is moving freely though shore tourism traffic is expected to begin this afternoon.

Check back throughout the day for this week's shore traffic report on Toms River Patch.

• Toms River's Click It or Ticket initiative is now in place, with a big banner warning drivers at Route 37 and Main Street that the seat belt enforcement program is in place. The National Highway Safety Commission says program has yielded the highest national seat belt usage rate of 85 percent, but it also means officers are in a seasonal blitz to crack down on drivers and occupants who don't buckle up.
• Traffic delays are expected along Washington Street near Christ Episcopal Church tomorrow, as a large-scale Celtic Festival comes to the church grounds. It's a fair atmosphere, so expect delays and look for pedestrians on the two-lane road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The regular Carousel of Music concerts continue this weekend at the library grounds on Washington Street and Robbins Street. It's another evening to expect delays downtown or be mindful of pedestrians dragging stadium chairs to catch the concert.