Crime & Safety

Westbound Detour Begins Wednesday for Route 571 Bridge Repairs

Crews will strengthen the bridge that was damaged by Hurricane Irene in 2011

A weeks-long detour beginning Wednesday on Route 571 near Toms River's border with Manchester will add some extra miles for some commuters. 

Beginning May 29, a construction project at the Route 571 bridge over the Toms River will mean a detour there for all westbound traffic on county roadway, according to the Ocean County Sheriff's Department.

Traffic heading west on Route 571 will be diverted on to Route 527 before reconnecting on Route 70. Eastbound traffic on Route 571 can continue to cross the bridge and will not be detoured during construction, the sheriff's department said. 

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This detour is necessary so crews can complete repairs to the bridge over the Toms River on the township's border with Manchester. 

"The project is hardening the bridge against the scour that Hurricane Irene caused about 18 months ago," said Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino.

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In 2011, flooding from Irene caused the surface of the roadway leading up to the bridge to cave in, closing a section of the two-lane road and forcing drivers to take a long detour for several days while initial repairs were made. 

The current construction and detour may last up to 10 weeks but officials said they hope to have the work completed on the federally funded project by July 4. 

The detour will take motorist from Route 571 west on to Route 527 north to Route 70 west before reconnecting with Route 571, the sheriff's department said. 

The Toms River Police Department will have special duty officers assigned to the Route 70/527 intersection as well as at the detour intersection at Routes 571/527. Alternate routes are advised during this period, the sheriff's department said. 


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