$1 Million Study Aims to Alleviate Brick Township Traffic Woes by End of 2026

Ocean County will spearhead a federally funded transportation study aimed at boosting safety while cutting congestion where Brick Boulevard, Hooper Avenue, and Chambers Bridge Road meet. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees greenlit $1 million in federal money during its January meeting.

Heavy traffic, repeated crashes, and tricky turns have plagued this spot for years. Wide intersections and countless driveways make life tough for drivers. Pedestrians and cyclists face hazards too, particularly when commuters clog the roads.

"These corridors are among the most heavily traveled in Ocean County," said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, who represents the county on the NJTPA board, according to Jersey Shore Online. "This study will help us identify improvements that make travel safer and more reliable for residents, commuters, and local businesses."

Planners will examine multiple solutions through the Local Concept Development process. Possibilities include reconfigured lanes, modernized signals, better driveway entry points, and upgraded paths for people on foot or bikes.

Environmental consequences, property requirements, construction obstacles, and how the entire corridor functions will get scrutinized. Once finished, the study will pinpoint one preferred option to move into preliminary engineering.

County officials anticipate that upgrades along these three roads will slash crashes and shorten travel times. Tens of thousands of people use these routes daily.

Brick Township and nearby Lakewood Township have grown rapidly, straining the road network. Summer brings beachgoers, which stretches delays even longer.

Money arrives through the Local Concept Development phase of the NJTPA's Local Capital Project Delivery Program for fiscal year 2026. Finishing this phase lets projects vie for future federal dollars to cover design work and actual construction.

Ocean County and the NJTPA plan to pick a consultant this spring. Work should kick off in winter 2026. At its January 12 meeting, the board approved $4 million total to fund four transportation studies — three in other counties.