Ocean County is cautioning drivers to be aware of new traffic patterns on the west side of Interchange 91 on the Garden State Parkway as the County’s work on the new traffic configuration draws to a close.
“This overall project has included wide ranging improvements to the Garden State Parkway at Interchange 91 in Brick Township,” said Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “We will be implementing the new configuration of Interchange 91 west of the Parkway beginning May 16.
“Drivers are cautioned to be alert for new traffic patterns, construction workers and vehicles in the work area,” he said.
On Tuesday May 16, Ocean County will activate new traffic signals in the area of the interchange.
Traffic signals at Stephan Road and Lanes Mill Road, Herborn Avenue Extension and Lanes Mill Road, Herborn Avenue and Burnt Tavern Road and Burnt Tavern and Lanes Mill roads and the Garden State Parkway ramp will be activated in their new configuration to accommodate the new and reconfigured entrance and exit ramps for Garden State Parkway Southbound.
“The improvements at the interchange are expected to increase safety and reduce commuter congestion,” Kelly said.
The improvements at Interchange 91 include the addition and relocation of on and off ramps to create a fully accessible interchange.
“This is expected to increase the level of performance on the roadway now and 20 years into the future,” said Kelly, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Engineering Department.
The project is being done in partnership with Ocean County, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the state of New Jersey.
“This is one of our most far-reaching designs to upgrade a Parkway interchange,” Kelly said. “We’ve worked closely with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Brick Township to redesign this interchange to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.”
Plans call for a full interchange with both northbound and southbound entrance and exit ramps.
Exit 91 had allowed only northbound vehicles to enter the Parkway, while only southbound traffic can exit.
“This project will meet the needs of our growing population far into the future,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “This area is home to a large number of commuters and this will help ease their ride to and from work.
“It also will help with summer visitors accessing Ocean County,” Vicari said. Kelly noted the redesign will also allow easier access to the Park-N-Ride commuter lots on both the east and west sides of the highway.
“Not only will this almost totally new interchange ease traffic on nearby Lanes Mill Road and Burnt Tavern Road, it will also reduce congestion at nearby Exit 90 at Chambers Bridge Road,” Kelly said. “Many of those motorists who now drive the extra miles from Chambers Bridge Road to northern Brick and Point Pleasant will now be able to utilize this interchange instead.”
The project included the following planned changes:
•A new northbound entrance ramp from Burnt Tavern Road and Lanes Mill Road, with access to the Park-N-Ride lot on the east side of the Parkway.
•A second northbound entrance ramp for vehicles traveling eastbound on Burnt Tavern Road. This ramp will also allow access from Burrsville Road. The single existing northbound ramp will be eliminated.
•A new northbound exit ramp linking the Parkway and Burrsville Road.
•A new southbound entrance ramp for traffic heading west on Burnt Tavern Road.
•A second southbound entrance ramp linking Lanes Mill Road with the Parkway. Herborn Avenue would be extended south and east to Lanes Mill Road, where it would meet the new entrance ramp at a signaled intersection.
•Southbound Parkway traffic could exit at the existing ramp or continue under the Burnt Tavern Road Bridge and use a new ramp that will link with Lanes Mill Road at a second new signaled interchange.