Those lucky enough to score tickets to President Trumps Tuesday night rally in Wildwood will face traffic, just based on the sheer numbers of people attending, and one bridge construction project in a key location that may likely slow things down.

Those numbers are the 7,400 people the Wildwoods Convention Center holds, a claim from Congressman Jeff Van Drew who Trump is coming to stump for that 100,000 tickets had been issued, and possibly thousands of protesters who are planning to demonstrate. But only three bridges carry traffic on and off the barrier islands that make up the Wildwoods.

The George Redding Bridge that carries Route 47-Rio Grande Avenue is under construction as part of Cape May Countys Rio Grande Avenue Gateway project, which has temporarily reduced the bridge from four to two lanes one in each direction, said Robert Church, county engineer. Route 47 is the most direct route between the Garden State Parkway and the convention center.

Construction work takes place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. but as of late Thursday, officials have not been asked to stop the project for the rally, Church said. The rally starts at 7 p.m. and convention center doors open at 3 p.m. The city expects there will be an overflow area nearby with screens for viewing outside and rally-goers are already talking about plans to arrive at least by Monday if not earlier.

Originally we had intended on changing the traffic patterns on Jan. 28 for the next phase of the project, but were asked to delay this until Jan. 29, due to the Presidents visit, so that there would no confusion with the new traffic patterns leading up to the event, Church said.

Route 47, which is normally two lanes in each direction, connects the Garden State Parkway and the Wildwoods. Sinkholes closed a small section of Route 47 located west of the Parkway and Route 9 which is an area that isnt used by most people traveling to Wildwood from other parts of the state.

Headed into Wildwood, those two lanes will merge into one at the top of the bridge. Drivers leaving the rally will also have to funnel into one lane on Rio Grande at Arctic Avenue until the top of the George Redding Bridge about a half-mile distance when it opens back up to two lanes headed west, Church said.

The project, which began in 2019, includes elevating a portion of the roadway above flood level and widening it, Church said.

Drivers thinking about taking a short cut through North Wildwood and into Stone Harbor and Avalon to leave will also face a closed bridge. The Ingrams Thorofare Bridge will be closed from 7 p.m. through 5 a.m. due to ongoing construction between Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, Avalon police said in a Facebook post. Avalon Boulevard also will be closed during those hours.

For the trip to the rally on the Garden State Parkway or Route 9, it should be smooth sailing as far as encountering any construction.

Im not aware of any additional closures around the time of the event on any NJDOT-maintained roads, said Steve Shapiro, a DOT spokesman.

Once supporters arrive, parking may not be an easy task. All the parking lots surrounding the convention center are not going to be available, said Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron. Drivers may have to go at least two or three blocks away. Some commercial establishments that are typically closed for the off-season and a sizable parking lot may reopen just for the rally parking.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Originally posted here:
Roadwork could snarl traffic on bridges near Trumps rally in Wildwood - NJ.com

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