Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Inside This Week’s Edition
THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
Vol. 3 - No. 45
Business Directory...............18-19 Classifieds................................20 Community News.................8-11 Dear Joel..................................16 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News..............14 Government...............................7 Inside The Law .........................17 Letters to the Editor.....................6 Wolfgang.................................23 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
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Newly Constructed Route 72 Bridge Opens To Traffic
–Photo by Daniel Nee The state Department of Transportation recently opened the eastbound span to traffic, in the ongoing reconstruction of Route 72’s bridges. By Daniel Nee MANAHAW K I N – State highway officials have opened up the newly constructed bridge over Manahawkin Bay to traffic, marking the first time vehicles have traversed two spans carrying Route 72 between Stafford Township and Long Beach Island. The shift means eastbound traffic is proceeding over the new bridge while westbound traffic is still flowing in one lane over the original bridge. At presstime, the state Department of Transportation said it expects to move all traffic to the new bridge within the following week, with two lanes running in each direction as crews work to restore traffic patterns to their summer alignment. This shift will permit work to the existing bridge, which will ultimately be closed to traffic. Summer traffic patterns are expected to be fully restored by mid-May, the state agency said.
The lane shifts are part of a $350 million project to construct the new bridge, improve traffic flow between the island and the mainland, and restore wetlands along the causeway route to their natural state while
creating a park. Because the original span across the bay is considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, officials say, will (Bridge - See Page 5)
April 30, 2016
Oyster Creek Confirms Nov. 2019 Shut Down Date
By Daniel Nee LACEY – The Oyster Creek Generating Station will shut down in November 2019, officials with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a recently released report. While the year of the negotiated closure of the Lacey Township plant was announced in 2010, the exact date of the shutdown has been the subject of much speculation, including questions as to whether the deadline could be met. Though licensed federally to operate through 2029, the plant’s owner, Exelon Corporation, agreed to shut down 10 years early to avoid a protracted battle with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which was pushing for expensive cooling towers to be installed at the site. Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the NRC, said in an e-mail that Exelon is expected to file a request with the agency in June that will detail its decommissioning plan. The license amendment, which will cover emergency procedures post-shutdown, will confirm the decommissioning date as November 30, 2019, Sheehan said. Minutes from an April 1 meeting between Exelon and NRC representatives was provided to The Southern Ocean Times. During (Oyster Creek - See Page 5)
Beach Haven To Tackle Abandoned Properties, Ban Beach Smoking
By Daniel Nee BEACH HAVEN – Smoking on the beach will become illegal in Beach Haven this summer, and the owners of abandoned properties in town will be put on notice to improve their properties under two initiatives favored by borough officials. Beach Haven passed an ordinance allowing for the
demolition of abandoned properties last year after the state government created a law allowing municipal governments to fund such measures after a recommendation by officials and an affirmative vote by the municipal council. To date, however, no such demolitions have taken place in Beach Haven, which led one resident to speak out on the issue at a recent
borough council meeting. Mary Ann Hovan, a Dock Road resident, said her neighborhood is home to a number of abandoned properties that have affected her quality of life. Some have buildings that are still standing while others have been demolished without any grading work having been completed, leading to flooding (Properties - See Page 5)
‑Photo by Daniel Nee A Dock Road resident said abandoned properties remain a neighborhood problem.