HOLMDEL, NJ – This weekend, Jersey Shore traffic has been under seize by zombies. Since Thursday, filming for a spinoff of the hit AMC television show Walking Dead has been taking place along Route 35, a major shore artery, causing large amounts of traffic.
The new show is called Isle of the Dead, starring Gaius Charles from Grey’s Anatomy; Mahina Napoleon from NCIS Hawaii, Zeljko Ivanek, and Jonathan Higginbotham. The plot will feature Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan.
Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan will appear in the show.
The state allowed the closure of the highway on Thursday and Friday during a hot and busy weekend at the Jersey Shore. On Monday, Route 35 will once again be closed between 9 am and 10 pm, the final day of filming.
“Detours will be in place, please plan an alternate route of travel as heavy delays are expected. Thank you for your patience during this time,” The Holmdel Police Department said.
During this closure, motorists will be allowed to access local businesses, but traffic will be diverted the entire day.
“Nightmare for locals. Closing down during rush hour and weekend shore traffic. Hope you’re getting paid a lot,” said Marleen Camperlino.
Although the shoot is filming in Holmdel, interfering with business, at least one business owner said no thanks.
The owner of Coldstone Blimpie said they were asked to bring their ice cream truck to the set but then canceled.
“already not supporting the businesses in Holmdel. They asked us if we can bring the truck and serve. I verified and clarified. Than less than 48 hours prior said they found someone else. No other ice cream stores in Holmdel,” the local franchise owner said. “I didn’t lose anything. I never had it. It’s just principle.”
Not all residents are happy about the filming in their town, saying the two days of shutdowns are causing traffic nightmares.
