Hurricane Evacuation Drill On Highways Today

New Jersey transportation officials and the State Police will conduct an emergency evacuation drill Thursday on several highways to simulate how they would respond to a major hurricane.

No roads will be closed during the drill. However, motorists can expect to see a bigger presence of State Police and New Jersey Department of Transportation work crews and are advised to use caution on the following key seashore evacuation routes:

— Atlantic City Expressway, the entire length from Atlantic City to Washington Township.

— Garden State Parkway, from mile marker 0 in Lower Township to mile marker 38 in Egg Harbor Township.

— I-195, from mile marker 6 in Robbinsville to about mile marker 34 in Wall Township.

— Route 72, from mile marker 0 in Woodland to approximately mile marker 29 in Ship Bottom.
 — Route 47, from mile marker 16 to 21 in Dennis Township, and approximately mile marker 32 to 35 in Maurice River Township.

— And Route 347, from mile marker 0 in Dennis to about mile marker 9 in Maurice River.

The main part of the drill is to simulate a “contra flow” of traffic on the highways to test the evacuation routes away from the coast during a hurricane, the NJDOT said in a press release. Crews will be erecting cones, barrels and message boards in designated locations along the side of the highways during the exercise.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of the drill while it is underway. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website at www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/hurricane-evacuation-drill-planned-thursday-on-n-j-highways/article_5e8bfe06-30c2-11e5-b8b5-971b7b66eab4.html