Leaders of Ocean City and Somers Point separately approved resolutions Thursday night supporting the temporary closing of the Route 52 causeway this winter to speed construction on the $400 million project.
The Ocean City Council voted 7-0 to close the span now so the contractor on the second half of the project, Route 52 Constructors, can accelerate work without the constant interference that busy traffic presents to builders.
The alternative the contractor presented was a logjam of single-lane traffic north and south on weekdays through November and partial lane closings on weekends, Councilman Keith Hartzell said.
The closings could continue through April 15, Hartzell said.
Somers Point’s City Council also unanimously passed a resolution supporting the causeway closing, but with several stipulations. They include:
The tolls for the Ocean City-Longport bridge would be waived during construction
There will be an agreed-upon list of times and dates when the road will be closed or certain lanes closed.
Reconstruction of the trolley bridge in Somers Point will not take place when the causeway is closed.
Proper signs will lead motorists in the right direction.
Construction will comply with the city’s noise ordinance.
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