By DON STINE
Plans to widen Route 66 in Neptune from two into four lanes are moving forward, township officials said on Monday night.
State Department of Transportation officials have proposed a $12 million, 1.2-mile road widening project that would expand Route 66 from two to four lanes from Jumping Brook Road, east to the intersection of Asbury Avenue and Wayside and Bowne roads, where a two-lane “roundabout” will be created to better handle traffic.
The state already owns a wide section of property along the northern side of the highway.
“The project is totally federally funded,” Neptune Business Administrator said at Monday’s Township Committee meeting after several residents asked for information about the status of the project.
He said the project is expected to begin in 2020. Route 66 is well-known for delays and bottlenecks
The project calls for turning lanes at major intersections, grass and paved medians, with concrete sections of the highway replaced with asphalt.
