Water main break, utility pole replacement cripple Rt. 9 in Lakewood, Toms River

Driving any other north-south road except Route 9 looks like a good idea all day.

A water main burst early this morning where the state highway crosses First Street. Township police reported the break just before 7:30 AM.

Traffic is narrowed to one lane in each direction in the area of the break. However, since it becomes a two-lane blacktop a short distance south of that point, drivers heading north from Toms River are reporting delays of up to an hour for a ride that normally takes 10 or 15 minutes.

Back in Toms River, an alternating-traffic arrangement continues at the Sunset Avenue intersection while a utility pole is replaced, sheared off in an overnight crash that resulted in arrests for DWI and heroin possession. Police in both towns expect the jams to continue until at least 3 PM.

If you're fed up with inaction to improve the state road that's been a two-lane blacktop through this stretch since it was built, New Jersey transportation officials offer two information sessions aimed at improving traffic flow on it. They're on August 18 at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, and on August 25 at the Lakewood Municipal Building.