UPDATE: Route 35 to Reopen, But Barrier Island Access Will Still be Restricted

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.