Curious about what improvements the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has planned for Route 9 in Toms River and Lakewood?

Local officials, residents, tenants, and the business community are invited to attend and encouraged to participate in the Public Information Center meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Lakewood Municipal Building, 231 Third Street, Lakewood. A special session in Spanish is Wednesday, June 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The purpose of the project, estimated to begin the spring of 2022, is to improve a section of Route 9 and motorist safety. The NJDOT will be focusing on the reconstruction and improvement of Route 9 from Indian Head Road, Toms River, to Central Avenue/Hurley Avenue, Lakewood Township. The NJDOT will also address deficient pavement along a 6.0 -mile section from Route 9 between Milepost 95.0, near Swain Avenue, Toms River, and Milepost 101.9 near Second Street, Lakewood.

The NJDOT also plans to improve operational and safety needs at select signalized intersections by adding turn lanes, improving existing signalized intersections, providing additional turn-lanes on Route 9 and/or approaching side streets for congestion relief, adding two new traffic signals, aiding pedestrians with ADA improvements and compliant sidewalks where possible, adding left turn slots at un-signalized side streets, and addressing storm water issues by updating roadway drainage, among other improvements.

Attendees will have an opportunity to review exhibits of the proposed project, ask questions, and discuss issues with NJDOT project team members.