A busy stretch of New Jersey highway that has seen more than 1,100 crashes, hundreds of injuries and even multiple deaths in just the past few years is slated for a major reconfiguration that aims to make it safer.
The new project looks to address a section of the Garden State Parkway in Ocean County between Exit 80 and Exit 83. The corridor runs through Toms River and is a main north-south route to many Jersey Shore destinations.
Since 2023, crashes along that stretch of highway area have resulted in five deaths and 335 injuries.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority held a public hearing to detail the planned overhaul. Plans include new ramps at Exit 80, wider lanes and a significant redesign at the Route 37 interchange. The latter redesign is aimed at separating traffic entering and exiting the parkway from vehicles continuing straight.
The project is expected to cost at least half a billion dollars and is slated to begin construction in 2027.
“For us, it is a safety improvement first and foremost. And second, it is also a congestion relief improvement,” said Kris Kolluri, executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Drivers who regularly navigate the area describe the current traffic patterns as stressful, with vehicles crossing paths in some of the same lanes at highway speeds.
“It’s scary,” said Elva Dudley, of Manchester Township. “It’s a hot mess. It’s just literally a hot mess on both sides.”
“Everyone trying to get on at the same time, get off at the same time,” said Beachwood resident Joey Lerch. “I can’t believe how bad it is in the summer. I’ll refuse to go on the Parkway. I’ll take the back roads.”
Officials said construction will bring short-term disruptions, but they plan to limit some of the impacts by scheduling much of the work overnight and during off-seasons when traffic volumes are lower.
“There will be impacts. But I want people to remember that we’re making these improvements to improve their lives and to make sure that provides a more safe and efficient system,” Kolluri said.
The project is expected to take several years to complete, with officials describing it as a long-term effort to untangle traffic and improve safety on a route built for much lighter traffic decades ago.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.
