The state Department of Transportation has begun a $3.9 million project to improve traffic conditions at the congested Route 9 and Lacey Road intersection.
The DOT's contractor - Earle Asphalt Co. - is slated to begin site mobilization and curb work this week. Utility relocation work began last November, to prepare for the project, the DOT said.
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"The Route 9 and Lacey Road intersection currently operates at over-capacity conditions, with Route 9 southbound traffic experiencing particularly significant delays at peak periods," according to a DOT release.
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The federally-funded project will reconstruct and improve the high-volume intersection. The upgrades to the intersection include:
• Route 9 northbound will be widened to feature one dedicated left-turn lane, one through lane and one through/right turn lane.
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• Route 9 southbound will be widened to feature two through lanes and an exclusive right-turn lane. The Route 9 southbound left turn will utilized the existing movement made via Oak Street and Parker Avenue.
• Lacey Road eastbound will be widened with a double left-turn lane, a through lane and a right-turn lane.
• Lacey Road westbound will be widened with a left turn lane and a shared through/right lane.
Additional improvements include a new dedicated left-turn from Route 9 southbound to Jones Road, new sidewalks throughout the project limits and upgrades to the drainage system. The existing traffic signal system will be modified to accommodate the widened intersection, according to the DOT.
The project will be done in states to minimize the impact on residents and motorists. Single-lane closures will be allowed on Route 9 during overnight hours, but one lane will be maintained on the highway during daytime and peak-period hours.
Short-term traffic detours of Jones Street will be required during the later stages of the project. Message boards will notify motorists of all upcoming traffic pattern changes.
The project - which has been in the pipeline for years - is being coordinated with NJ TRANSIT and local police and fire personnel.
The project is expected to be completed by next spring, but is weather-dependent, the DOT said.
Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org real-time travel information.
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