Roads Into Ocean City Already Backed Up

The City of Ocean City announced at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday that residents and property owners would be allowed back onto the island after a three-day mandatory evacuation during Hurricane Sandy, and by 12:15 p.m. long lines of traffic were backed up at the causeway.

Police at checkpoints in Somers Point and Marmora are checking for proof of residency or property ownership. Anybody traveling inbound can expect delays.

People returning to Ocean City can use the Ninth Street or 34th Street causeways, but the Longport causeway and Ocean City-Longport Bridge were not open as of early Wednesday afternoon as crews are still clearing debris and downed telephone poles from the roadway.

See more information from the city on the evacuation and the aftermath of the storm.

Update: At 3 p.m., police moved the checkpoint from Somers Point to midway along the Route 52 causeway near the fishing pier entrance. Traffic continues to move at a crawl.