UPDATE: Route 35 to Reopen, But Barrier Island Access Will Still be Restricted
Brick details access plan; others await word on plans to re-open areas on Monday
When the Brick Township portion of the barrier island repopulates Jan. 7, some areas will still be restricted to residents only, officials have announced.
The new access rules go into effect 7 a.m. Monday.
Route 35 will open unrestricted southbound from the Mantoloking Bridge to Toms River, according to a statement from the Brick Township Police Department, but side streets on the island will be accessible to residents, their contractors, governmental personnel and "individuals critical to implementing individual or governmental recovery efforts only."
"While safety is always of paramount concern, the repopulation of the barrier island is also a priority for the Township of Brick," said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, in the statement.
Residents may return to their homes on a full-time basis. However, a curfew for residents will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., and access to the ocean beach will be restricted to emergency personnel and those employed in recovery efforts only.
A speed limit of 25 m.p.h. will also be in effect for all streets within Brick Township.
Mantoloking Borough announced earlier this week that Route 35 will remain closed north of the Mantoloking Bridge, as that town is not a part of the repopulation plan. Likewise to Brick, all of Mantoloking's side streets off Route 35 will remain closed.
The mayors of Brick Township, Toms River and Seaside Heights have announced re-population plans in a joint request to Governor Chris Christie to allow residents access back into their homes.
The North Beach area of Toms River, all of Brick and single-family homes in Seaside Heights were included in a formal joint request to re-populate their towns on the same day, on Jan. 7.
Peter S
10:25 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Still no plans for Ortley Beach.
shorefriend
10:56 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Peter, I am so stinking furious about no action on Ortley!! I just want to go home!!!
Jessica
8:52 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Can my contractor start work in Seaside Park without a BTPD sticker on his truck?
they can do that
10:32 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
What is the reason why rt 35 is still closed in mantoloking? Commuting from toms river to point pleasant beach through brick is a nightmare. 20 minute ride now can take upwards of 1 hour.
Ryan Meyers
11:52 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Who is paying all the overtime for the cops to sit out there ? I imagine the figures will end up being mind blowing? Scott care to offer some numbers for Brick ?
Brick Surfer
4:08 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013
The latest storms that came through revealed sink holes under Route 35 north of Herbert street. For obvious reasons, that all needs to be looked at and addressed, before anyone can drive on that portion of roadway.
DAN FRIENDLY
10:35 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Mantoloking needs to get it together. Let the people who can return, return home. Curfew still?? Seriously, this is not new orleans. What about people who work at night?? Enough of this dam police state. I have been in mantoloking and as terrible as it is, there is no reason people who want to shouldnt be able to go home. They are only delaying progress. The people dont need the government protecting them from themselves.
Michelle Blamble
11:13 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
So access to Rt 35S is completely unrestricted but I can only go to my home on Rt 35S in Ortley Beach on "allowed" days. How does this make any sense?
Further, they are repopulating Brick & northern TR beaches, but Ortley is still subject to every third day restrictions for "collections". Does that mean they aren't collecting debris in the repopulated towns?
How does it make sense that my neighbor two blocks away in Lavalette can live in his home while my contractor gets his TR permit pulled for working on the wrong day? We really need a good explanation why they won't open Ortley up (and collections doesn't cut it).
TR government is seriously slowing recovery down!
pam ulrich
11:21 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Please open route 35 north just for commuting hours.
Don Smith
11:54 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
"Access to the ocean beach will be restricted to emergency personnel and those employed in recovery efforts only."
Are we saying the ocean is still too rough or are they planning a party?
Peter S
11:58 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
Maybe Ortley Beach will be a new tourist attraction for Toms River to offset the 20% loss of ratables. It is shameful that everyone has to has to drive though Ortley and yet we can't go home.
Av
3:58 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013
I'm partying on the beach tonight!!!! Oh yeah!!!
Lifetime Resident
12:25 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
let see, many house are still dangerously unstable, there is still fire risk from homes with corroded electric..There are sink holes,many homes are still marked for demolition, dangerous debris still in large quantity.. it has reflooded twice now.. People still trying to loot abandoned areas.(police having problem with people going into these destroyed homes that don't belong to them)it really sucks that people can't home yet but there are real safety issues down there. and if one person dies or is injured then everyone will be up in arms blaming towns and police for letting people down there..
Michelle Blamble
10:10 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
"Lifetime" resident - clearly no one should move into a home that is dangerously unstable, or in a sink hole. There is no risk from homes with corroded electric as those homes have no electric, etc. What do all of the things you mentioned have to do with anything? Are you telling me that the other beaches are completely cleaned up? I know that's not true. Things don't have to be perfect to let people back in their homes. Your comment just makes me think you work for the Toms River government and are trying to justify your abuse of power.
Michelle Blamble
10:13 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
and regarding looters in abandoned areas. If the police didn't guarantee that thieves knew those areas were empty there wouldn't be so many problems. That's one of the things that concerns me - how easy it is for someone driving by to pop in steal things.
DiSenMar
1:01 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
My mom's been a resident of Ortley Beach for 40 years.... and cant go home...We need media attention... and the governor's attention... Ortley Beach is getting no press!!! Probably because they're not allowed there... What's with the Toms River mayor??? Did he forget about Ortley? But he still wants the tax money!!!!!
Betty Ann Fuller
7:34 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
when will the tax assessor department post the new tax bills on the website since they are due 2/1? Many of us already submitted the forms personally, but my taxes have not yet decreased for the next due date.
Ortley
7:57 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
don't hold your breath,we are waiting to hear back also.