Ocean County Launches $12M Cedar Bridge Avenue Upgrade To Boost Safety and Mobility

Ocean County plans to pour $12 million into fixing up Cedar Bridge Avenue. The work will stretch from South Clifton Avenue to Airport Road in Lakewood Township. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority is picking up the tab, and county workers will run the show.

This road topped Ocean County's list for pedestrian and bike crashes on the 2023 New Jersey Department of Transportation network screening. It ranked second when measuring all types of accidents.

"This project addresses longstanding safety issues along a vital corridor for our residents and visitors," said Frank Sadeghi, director of the Board of Commissioners and co-liaison to the county engineering department, according to Jersey Shore Online. Sadeghi believes these changes will reduce collisions and make things safer for people on foot or bikes.

The street connects shoppers to stores, links residents to public buildings, and carries through-traffic across the region. County Route 528 sees some of the heaviest use around.

Workers will modernize traffic lights at six crossroads and build a path where walkers and bikers can travel together. They'll also widen the edges of the road, paint crosswalks that stand out more, install ramps that meet ADA standards, and add brighter lights along the way.

Ray Gormley, who also works as co-liaison to the engineering department, pointed out that crews finished earlier safety fixes back in 2015 and 2017. He said this new work will finish what a 2014 road safety audit suggested years ago.

"Upgrading Cedar Bridge Avenue will benefit everyone who lives, works, and travels through Ocean County," said Gormley.

Designers will start sketching out plans in summer 2026. The county will team up with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and Lakewood Township leaders to get it done.

The Board of Commissioners called the spending proof that they're serious about making roads safer while getting ready for more people and cars down the line. Better roads and bridges protect lives and help towns thrive, they said.