Construction Improvements on Sea Isle Boulevard to Affect Traffic Flow

COURT HOUSE – Sea Isle Boulevard (County Road No. 625) is about to enter a new phase of construction the week of Dec. 4 when traffic is switched from the south side of the roadway to atop of the new embankment on the north side. South State, Inc. from Bridgeton, the general contractor for the project, and their subcontractors are currently preparing for transitioning traffic to the north side. The north side of Sea Isle Boulevard is approximately 4.5 higher than the south side.  The temporary roadway on the north side of the Boulevard is one 11-foot lane in each direction of travel with 1-foot shoulders.
Currently, the contractors are regrading and paving the areas about the northbound entrance ramp to the Garden State Parkway and the connector to Old Sea Isle Boulevard.  New guide rail is being installed along the north side of the new roadway along with new streetlights at the approach to Ludlam Thorofare Bridge.
The transition to the north side of Sea Isle Boulevard will occur during the overnight when traffic volumes are low.  This will allow the South State to complete the paving required at the tie-in areas with the least amount of interruption to traffic.  Due to the limited width, the Parkway northbound entrance ramp will be closed for a portion of the overnight of Dec. 4 (weather permitting) for the paving operations.  The next available northbound entrance to the Parkway is in Marmora at Roosevelt Boulevard.   Access to Old Sea Isle Boulevard will be very limited from the time the traffic is moved to the north side of Sea Isle Boulevard until Dec. 6.  South State, Inc. will be working all day and through the night of Dec. 5 to complete the tie-in to Old Sea Isle Boulevard.  Over the course of transitioning the traffic to the new embankment on the north side, there will be intermittent lane closings on Sea Isle Boulevard and alternating traffic in the remaining open lane will be controlled flaggers.  Motorists are advised that there will be delays, but at no time will Sea Isle Boulevard be completely closed to traffic.
Once the transition is completed, South State, Inc. will pulverize the existing asphalt pavement on the south side of Sea Isle Boulevard and begin placing fill.  The placement of fill material is to be completed by March 14.  The new fill will be approximately 1.5 feet higher than the north side roadway.  The 1.5 feet of additional fill is a surcharge to pre-settle the southern portion of the roadway.  This surcharge will be removed in the fall of 2018.
The final roadway configuration of one 12-foot wide lane and 8-foot shoulder in each direction of travel is currently scheduled to be operation by March 31, 2019.  The overall project has a June 2020 completion date.  Environmental mitigation work and restoration of wetlands that were temporarily disturbed during the construction will be performed during the fall and winter season of 2019-20.
The goal of the project is to rehabilitate the pavement of Sea Isle Boulevard and to raise the roadway above the 100-year flood elevation.  The project also included the replacement of three (3) existing twin 30-inch equalizer pipes under the roadway with new 48″ by 76″ concrete culvert pipes.  Turtle exclusion fencing is being installed behind the guide rail to prevent the diamondback terrapins from entering the roadway.
South State, Inc. was awarded the nearly $13 million by the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders in May 2014.  McCormick Taylor, Inc. is the designer of record for the project.  Maser Consulting P.A. is providing construction oversight on the project.  This project is funded by NJ Department of Transportation pass-through grants from the Federal Highway Administration.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Cape May County Public Works Department at (609) 465-1035 or by email at countyengineer@co.cape-may.nj.us.