A yet-to-be-opened entrance to the Garden State Parkway at interchange 91 in Brick. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
County officials confirmed Friday that traffic signals at the remaining portions of the Garden State Parkway interchange 91 site in Brick would activate next week in order to get drivers acclimated to the new pattern.
Shorebeat first reported on the intended schedule for the rest of the project last month. According to the Ocean County Engineering Department, the new northbound Garden State Parkway entrance ramp on Lanes Mill Road east of the parkway will open on or about Thursday, Aug. 10. In addition, the traffic signal will be put into flash operation on or about Monday Aug. 7. It will be fully operational when the new northbound Garden State Parkway entrance ramp will open.
“We anticipate the bulk of the work will be completed in about a month,” said Freeholder Jack Kelly. “Once all the traffic signals are working properly, signage has been installed and the remainder of the work is done, the improvements at the interchange will be open to motorists.”
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Signage will be provided to direct westbound Burnt Tavern Road and southbound Lanes Mill Road drivers to use the new entrance ramp. Eastbound Burnt Tavern Road and northbound Burrsville Road drivers will continue to use the existing northbound Garden State Parkway entrance ramp located on Burnt Tavern Road, just west of Lanes Mill Road.
“We are closely working with the Brick Township Police Department so these traffic changes will be instituted smoothly and safely,” Kelly said. “We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the township and we hope motorists will take their time and learn the new traffic patterns.”
The new configuration of interchange 91 west of the Parkway became operational May 16 when the county activated new traffic signals in the area of the interchange. Traffic signals at Stephan Road and Lanes Mill Road, Herborn Avenue Extension and Lanes Mill Road, Herborn Avenue and Burnt Tavern Road and Burnt Tavern and Lanes Mill roads and the Garden State Parkway ramp were all activated in their new configuration to accommodate the new and reconfigured entrance and exit ramps for Garden State Parkway Southbound.
The improvements at Interchange 91 include the addition and relocation of on and off ramps to create a fully accessible interchange with both northbound and southbound entrance and exit ramps.
Previously, interchange 91 had allowed only northbound vehicles to enter the Parkway, while only southbound traffic could exit.
The redesign will also allow easier access to the Park-N-Ride commuter lots on both the east and west sides of the highway, officials said.
The northbound exit will be known as the “Herbertsville” exit.
Once completed the project will provide:
- A new northbound entrance ramp from Burnt Tavern Road and Lanes Mill Road, with access to the Park-N-Ride lot on the east side of the Parkway.
- A second northbound entrance ramp for vehicles traveling eastbound on Burnt Tavern Road. This ramp will also allow access from Burrsville Road. The single existing northbound ramp will be eliminated.
- A new northbound exit ramp linking the Parkway and Burrsville Road.
- A new southbound entrance ramp for traffic heading west on Burnt Tavern Road.
- A second southbound entrance ramp linking Lanes Mill Road with the Parkway. Herborn Avenue would be extended south and east to Lanes Mill Road, where it would meet the new entrance ramp at a signaled intersection.
- Southbound Parkway traffic could exit at the existing ramp or continue under the Burnt Tavern Road Bridge and use a new ramp that will link with Lanes Mill Road at a second new signaled interchange.
