Ocean Avenue in Belmar will remain off limits for some time, Mayor Matt Doherty said, as construction crews drive pilings 20 feet into the ground to rebuild the destroyed boardwalk.

Epic Construciton will be working weekdays starting at 7 a.m. to complete the work but the roadway will close seven days of the week as construction equipment and materials are stored there for this portion of the boardwalk rebuild.

Doherty had hoped a discussion with the county — as Ocean Avenue is a county road — might reopen Ocean Avenue in one direction. Currently towns such as Long Branch have taken to making the more damaged portions of their ocean front roadway into a one-way street for the time being.

But as 20 foot pilings, the trucks that deliver them, and the equipment and crews that drive the pilings into the beach take up so much of the right of way and road, Ocean Avenue will remain closed for the time being.