Codey calls for Parkway
improvements in South Jersey
(Trenton)
- Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today directed the Department
of Transportation (DOT) and the Turnpike Authority to address
traffic congestions issues occurring on the southern section of
the Garden State Parkway.
"There are few things in life more frustrating than wasting
time in traffic," Codey stated. "We need to pursue improvements
to our roadways that will allow residents and vacationers to travel
with greater ease. Less time in traffic means more time to spend
enjoying our lives."
Codey directed DOT and the Turnpike Authority to make improvements
at Exit 25 on the Garden State Parkway. This single lane exit
is currently unable to handle excess traffic and vehicles are
backing up on the Garden State Parkway disrupting traffic. The
scheduled improvements include:
· Constructing a full 1,200-foot southbound deceleration
lane with a 10-foot shoulder along the mainline. This will get
traffic exiting at Interchange 25 off the mainline GSP, improving
safety.
· Widening the existing southbound exit ramp to two lanes
to the approach to the Roosevelt Boulevard intersection.
· Coordinating the timing of traffic signals at the intersection
of Route 9 and Roosevelt Boulevard and the intersection of Route
9 and Marmora Road.
· Reconfiguring the entrance to an adjacent commuter parking
lot eliminating the opposing movement at the end of the ramp and
allowing for a right-turn into the commuter parking lot from Roosevelt
Boulevard westbound.
Additionally, he has asked DOT and the Turnpike Authority to explore
options to help alleviate congestion at Exit 20 of the Garden
State Parkway.
"With traffic volumes steadily increasing throughout Southern
New Jersey, the NJDOT and the NJ Turnpike Authority are always
looking for ways to relieve congestion and improve traffic flow
along our roads," stated NJDOT Commissioner Jack Lettiere.
"Governor Codey's announcement signals a major investment
in congestion relief for Southern New Jersey that will significantly
improve the quality of life for towns along the Garden State Parkway.
This project is yet another example of the State's financial commitment
to fixing the transportation system throughout southern New Jersey."
"I would like to thank the Governor for his prompt response
and for personally coming to Cape May County to address these
requests. His support and commitment to South Jersey is greatly
appreciated. We must do whatever it takes to alleviate this horrific
traffic situation. I am happy that the improvements to Exit 25
are already in progress and encourage the Department of Transportation
to act swiftly in their study of Exit 20.We need to act before
someone loses their life or is seriously injured. We can not let
this happen, we need immediate action and we need it now,"
said Van Drew.
Codey's traffic relief initiatives:
· In May, Codey announced he is accelerating the addition
of one-way tolling at the Bergen Toll Plaza two years ahead of
schedule. Workers will remove toll barriers from the plaza's southbound
lanes in time for Memorial Day 2006 - not 2008, as originally
planned.
· Codey also directed the Turnpike Authority to develop
a plan for the installation of one-way tolls at the Great Egg,
New Gretna and Cape May toll plazas in 2006 - matching the new
timeline for the Bergen Toll Plaza.
· Also in May, Codey announced the Barnegat Toll Plaza
will benefit from one-way tolling and Express E-ZPass as part
of a new project to widen a 17-mile stretch of the Parkway in
Ocean County. That project will add a 12-foot-wide travel lane
and a 12-foot-wide shoulder on both the northbound and southbound
sides of the Parkway, from Interchange 63 to Interchange 80.
· Express E-ZPass became operational at the Parkway's Asbury
Park, Raritan and Toms River toll plazas May 25, three days ahead
of schedule and just in time for Memorial Day Weekend 2005. Combined
with one-way tolling already in place at the Asbury Park and Raritan
plazas, Express E-ZPass at the three locations now makes it possible
for E-ZPass customers to drive more than 70 miles without slowing
down to pay a toll.
. Codey's larger initiative to ease the flow of traffic throughout
New Jersey includes the plan to widen a 20.1-mile stretch of the
New Jersey Turnpike, from Interchange 8A in Middlesex County to
Interchange 6 in Burlington County.
