Frustrated motorists braved lengthy stays at traffic lights along Herbertsville Road this week, as a county-led project to replace drainage infrastructure led to significant detours.
Making matters worse, drivers who were detoured down Maple Avenue to Burnt Tavern Road faced another hurdle – lanes closed on Burnt Tavern due to tree trimming. County officials say the project is important and necessary, and that the detours will remain in place for several weeks.
According to Ocean County Engineer John Ernst, the Ocean County Road Department is currently replacing more than 2,200 feet of drainage pipe on Herbertsville Road.
“The corrugated metal pipe was beginning to fail and in order to keep the road safe for the public, new pipe made of high-density polyethylene is being installed to replace the aged metal pipe,” Ernst said by way of county spokeswoman Donna Flynn.
The pipes could be seen set beside the roadway on Tuesday. The work zone runs from Maple Avenue to the intersection with Winding River Road, past the Maple Leaf Park complex.
As for how long the project will take: “The work is expected to be completed by mid-March,” Ernst said.
As it currently stands, eastbound traffic on Herbertsville moves freely, but westbound traffic is detoured onto Maple and routed through Burnt Tavern, to Lanes Mill Road, and around back to Herbertsville.
Ocean County is working with Brick Township and the Brick Township Police Department, Flynn said. Detours have been put in place to assist motorists around the work area.