Traffic in Belmar has returned to normal after the borough's mayor temporarily barred nonresidents from entering the community Sunday via a major highway.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty announced the decision in a Twitter post around 3 p.m. Sunday. He says traffic into the town from Route 35 is "shut down immediately" because the Monmouth County community of about 6,000 people has "reached its capacity." Doherty says the decision was made for public safety reasons.

Thousands of people came to Belmar on Sunday for the concluding day of the 29th annual Seafood Festival or to hit local beaches.

Officials said traffic returned to normal a few hours later and lifted the restriction.