STAFFORD – Construction will close lanes on Route 72 starting at 8 p.m. on May 27, the State Department of Transportation announced.
The work is expected to be done between 8 p.m. on May 27 and 7 a.m. on May 28. There will be alternating road closures in both directions. At least one lane in both directions will be open during construction.
Earle Asphalt Co. is working on the East Road project. At the conclusion, Route 72 eastbound will have three travel lanes and a full width shoulder, same as the westbound road.
Beginning May 29, there will be final milling and paving on Route 72 between the Garden State Parkway and Martin Truex Jr. Boulevard, as well as the side streets and ramps.
This is a federally-funded $11.6 million project to address safety and congestion in the area, and local officials have been eager to see the work done.
Changes will be the addition of a 10-foot shoulder in each direction on Route 72 between the Garden State Parkway and the Stafford Square Shopping Center, median widening, new barrier curbs, new traffic signals and roadway improvements at two Route 72 intersections – Roosevelt Boulevard and Doc Cramer Boulevard.
A new culvert and a revised jug handle circling a water basin from Route 72 westbound to a relocated East Road were constructed and moved approximately 200 feet east from its previous location. In addition, two new storm water basins were constructed further down on Route 72 westbound, and West Road was relocated east from its current location between McDonalds and Mr. Tire to a new location between Element Restaurant and Starboard Plaza. Washington Road, located parallel to Route 72 now ends at the new West Road.
The entire project is expected to be done by the end of summer.
