What South Jersey drivers need to know with new construction on important causeway

One of the most important causeways in South Jersey can be found connecting the Coastal Community of Ocean City to the mainland town of Somers Point.

First constructed in 1914 and originally called the Somers Point Bridge, this causeway was one of the oldest connections between the Jersey Shore and the mainland for motor vehicles. In 1922, the state of New Jersey purchased the Somers Point Bridge and established the first Route 52 Causeway with the construction of a new bridge in 1933.

Less than 100 years later, the causeway's structural integrity was deteriorating, and the NJ Department of Transportation began the process of replacing all the bridges on the Route 52 Causeway in the early 2000s. Numerous delays forced the project to take almost a decade to finish before it was completed in 2012.

Now, 13 years later, the NJ DOT is undertaking more construction on the Route 52 Causeway. But this project will only take a week to complete the upgrades to the bridges that see an average of 22,000 vehicles travel across annually.

What Construction Is Happening On The Route 52 Causeway?

Multiple media outlets have reported that the New Jersey Department of Transportation will have construction crews actively working on the bridges from Monday, October 27th to Friday, October 31st.

Between 7 am to 3:30 pm Construction Crews will be replacing the sideways and pedestrian areas on the Route 52 Causeway. The work is part of a statewide effort to make sure all curb ramps and sidewalks will be in compliance with the new standards setout by the the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The NJ DOT will also be upgrading and replacing the " decorative lighting" along the Route 52 Causeway. The Department of Transportation plans to work with Ocean City and Somers Point to "illuminate the bridge for special events".