By PETE WALTON
Work has begun on the widening and upgrade of two miles of Route 66 in Neptune and Ocean Township.
“This project is long overdue,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th). The congressman, who represents Ocean and adjacent Tinton Falls, called the effort “a great example of tenacity and a teamwork approach with local, state and federal partners all working together to resolve a long-standing problem.”
Officials of the state Department of Transportation say that the ongoing work, which is due for completion in 2026, involves the installation of construction signs and traffic control devices.
“We advise motorists to reduce speed, exercise caution, and anticipate potential delays,” Tinton Falls officials warned drivers.
The plan, funded with $12 million from the federal government, calls for the expansion of Route 66 from two to four lanes, with turning lanes and a median, from Jumping Brook Road to Bowne and Wayside roads.
“The need to widen Route 66 had been acknowledged and on the books for over 30 years, yet no shovel had ever been put to ground,” Smith said. “The roadway was built in the early 1940s and has few upgrades since that time. Since the first proposals for upgrades were discussed many years ago, more and more people have moved to the surrounding area, and multiple retail outlets and restaurants have populated the road. All of that growth has added to the already-crowded roadway, which precipitously narrows from four lanes to two lanes for roughly one mile before reverting back to four lanes.”
“The area is plagued by daily, bumper-to-bumper traffic jams which are worsened during the summer months,” the congressman said. “Studies show the crash rate on Route 66 is three times the state average for this type of roadway, making the need for improvements even more critical.”
“This project will not only improve capacity and road conditions, but it will create a safer experience for the traveling public,” said Paul Pittari, project director and vice president of the Princeton-based firm HNTB. The company was hired to perform inspection services for the work.
“During storms, when the need for expeditious evacuation is paramount, the traffic moves at an alarmingly slow pace,” said Rep. Smith. “Past hurricanes and nor’easters have shown us how crucial this roadway is to public safety. Merging into a bottleneck is a dangerous situation that needs to be remedied. This plan is the remedy.”
When the project is complete, a roundabout is to replace three traffic lights near the eastern end of the work, where westbound traffic currently bears left to stay on Route 66 or veers to the right on Asbury Avenue and a northbound entrance to the Garden State Parkway.
The state is proposing a 60 mph speed limit for the new four-lane section.
The roundabout will be constructed to the north of the existing Route 66 roadway, minimizing the impact on traffic while the project is underway.
The land required for widening Route 66 was acquired in the 1940s. Utility poles and underground wiring has long been situated outside the widening limits.
The new roadway will have a grass median and left-turn slots for major driveways.
Intersections will be improved with upgraded crosswalks and curbs, compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The Green Grove Road signal will be upgraded in a similar fashion, with additional turning lanes, new signal hardware, crosswalks and curb ramps for improved pedestrian movement.
