The state is about to begin widening the Garden State Park from two to three lanes in each direction along a 17-mile stretch in Ocean County, Gov. Jon Corzine announced Monday. The $220 million project will widen the roadway from Milepost 63 in Stafford to Milepost 80 just south of Toms River in an effort to ease the flow of traffic on a route that is used by commuters and tourists and would play a role in any evacuation of the Jersey Shore. The project also calls for installation of Express E-Zpass lanes at the Barnegat Toll Plaza and the rehabilitation and widening of the Mullica River Bridge. The work is expected to be completed by December 2011. State officials said they expect the project will provide 1,500 jobs. Read full Newjerseynewsroom article here.