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TOMS RIVER, BERKELEY AND LBI SET FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
OCEAN COUNTY - Key roads in Toms River and Berkeley townships, along with Long Beach Island's main artery will see major improvements in 2007.
Work will begin this summer on dual state and county projects to improve both Route 70 and Massachusetts Avenue in the North Dover section of Toms River Township.
The state work includes improvements along Route 70 from Route 9 west to Whitesville Road. By the fall, the county will begin to work on a $4 million project to widen Massachusetts Avenue to five lanes at the intersection with Route 70, said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly.
"We'll have two lanes crossing Route 70 in both directions and a left-turn lane," Kelly explained. "The improvements will be similar to what we did at Route 571 and Route 70 in Manchester."
The Massachusetts Avenue improvements will continue north to Cross Street.
The county and state are also working together on an upgraded drainage system near the Massachusetts Avenue intersections.
Berkeley Township's sprawling adult communities will also benefit from new safety improvements coming to Mule Road.
Beginning later this year, the county will install upgraded traffic signals along Mule Road from Plaza Drive to Davenport Road. The new signals will include left turn only arrows.
"Today, drivers can turn left on a green light if no traffic is coming the other way," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, liaison to the Ocean County Road Department. "When the upgrades are complete, left turns will be allowed only on a green arrow. A red arrow will prevent left turns."
The change should reduce the number of accidents at the six intersections, Lacey said.
The entire cost is funded by the federal government.
Lacey said the county will place electronic message boards along Mule Road notifying motorists of the traffic pattern change.
Also on tap for 2007 is the next phase of resurfacing along Long Beach Boulevard from the Ship Bottom Borough line south to Beach Haven.
The estimated $1.5 million project will include resurfacing of selected portions of the roadway and drainage improvements.
The first phase of the project was completed in 2006.
The Freeholders are expected to authorize the advertisement of bids at their February 7 meeting and work will begin this spring.
"We will require the contractor to complete the job before the start of the summer tourist season," Kelly said.
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