Lakewood has enjoyed unprecedented growth over the last decade. This has brought many conveniences, upgraded to its quality of life, and boosted the local economy.
But no good thing comes without a downside. Lakewood, once a resort town for the rich and famous, is now a bustling city. The existing infrastructure was not built for the current population. We have all experienced traffic and bottle-necking at key intersections, which can be frustrating.
Some good news
TLS has obtained a status update on many upcoming improvements planned for Lakewood roadways.
The northern parts of Lakewood will soon have updated traffic signals in key areas such as East County Line and Brook, East County Line and Ridge, Lanes Mills and Joe Parker.
Major announcements for the southern portion of Lakewood include the widening of Cross Street, which is already 60% through the design phase and slated to begin soon, the completion of the Cross Street drainage extension, and upcoming traffic signal upgrades at Cross and James, Prospect and Cross, Massachusetts and Cross, White and Cross and Faraday and Cross.
The widening of Cross Street will be done in two phases. Both phases provide for a continuous 3-lane design in a fifty-two (52) foot wide cartway. This consists of a center turning lane, with a travel lane and shoulder in each direction. Additionally, all intersections will be designed and constructed with a 5-lane geometry to accommodate the future widening of Cross Street in Lakewood from Route 9 to Jackson Township in accordance with the adopted Ocean County Master Plan. This will provide for additional turning lanes and traffic capacity at all intersections.
In keeping with the need for improvement, 5-lane geometry will also be required for all development applications submitted to the Ocean County Planning Board until the future widening of Cross Street in accordance with the Ocean County Master Plan is constructed by the County of Ocean.
Affects The Parke Development
Recent coverage on The Parke development’s application scheduled to be heard by the planning board tomorrow has been focused on these critical improvements.
“Now that these important upgrades are in the works, most of the concerns voiced about The Parke are addressed,” Shmuli Rosenberg, a spokesperson for The Parke told The Lakewood Scoop. “Contrary to what some outliers and critics are trying to insinuate, this is good for Lakewood and the opposition is a small minority.”
Lakewood Projects 2017-2019
I love the last line of the page – Re: The Parke Development “The opposition is a small minority”
I think a poll is in order
Agree with you Me. I’m seeing and hearing a lot of opposition, across the whole Township. Opposition is not limited to the Fairways. Many, many concerns about infrastructure that go beyond Cross Street.
What about Williams and James St traffic light, as well as widening the entire intersection??
What about East End corner County Line needs help
Pls look into a light on the corner of somerset and 7th St.
This is an accident prone intersection.
James and Williams they forgot and Z Hope and Miller.
Negba between east 4 and east 5th is a disaster, needs to be widened, corner visibility is blocked by planted bushes, should be removed.
New Hampshire and Chestnut is well over due for a traffic light.
What an overstatement….Lakewood has “enjoyed unprecedented growth…..”. Not everyone has enjoyed it and we’re not enjoying proposals for the future. The Southwest section of the township (Cross/Massachusetts) NEEDS open space not development. This is a clear message that the voices of the opposition are not heard and not cared about.
This is great news! Not o my will it make driving easier and safer but will allow cars to turn safely, not risking their life to make a left turn, and also much safer for pedestrians.
I’ll take the crumbs they’re offering over the little the township is doing.
The design phase is 60percent done doesnt cut it. When the design phase is done and work on the road is completed then and only then should any further construction on Cross St be considered. Until that time nothing should be allowed to go before the planning board. How can you do a proper traffic study without the road work being done?
what about prospect and Massachusetts?