Hearing on Parkway Lights Tonight

COURT HOUSE- The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (Authority) will hold a public hearing for the purpose of taking public comment on the proposed Garden State Parkway (GSP) Interchanges 9, 10, 11 Improvements Project between Mileposts 7.4 and 11.9.
The authority, in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration , and Cape May County is proposing improvements to Interchanges 9, 10, and 11 on the Garden State Parkway, in the Township of Middle.
The three interchanges are at-grade, signalized intersections that connect the Parkway with Shell Bay Avenue (County Road 674) at Interchange 9, Stone Harbor Boulevard (County Route 657) at Interchange 10, and Crest Haven Road (County Route 609) at Interchange 11. These three signalized intersections are the only roadway crossings along the entire 172-mile length of the GSP that are not grade-separated.
The authority proposes to eliminate the at-grade, signalized intersections by constructing grade-separated bridges over the local roads with ramp connections to allow access to and from the GSP and eliminating the local road intersections at these three interchanges. The project is intended to improve overall regional and local traffic and pedestrian safety, reduce congestion, improve levels of service at the three crossings of the GSP and eliminate the unsafe conditions at the uncontrolled access points from the adjacent properties. By addressing the unsafe conditions and improving overall travel safety, travel conditions along the GSP between Interchanges 9, 10 and 11 will be enhanced.
Pursuant to New Jersey Executive Order No. 172, the authority will present the improvements that are proposed to be undertaken. In addition, in accordance with the New Jersey No Net Loss Reforestation Act, the authority will present information concerning the clearing of trees necessary for the project and proposed reforestation effort.
The project includes reforestation plans at Interchanges 9, 10, and 11 and along the GSP mainline in the project corridor between Mileposts 7.4 and 11.9. The purpose of the hearing is to inform all interested stakeholders, including local residents, public officials, and the business community about the Project and solicit public comments.
The public hearing will be held Oct. 4 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cape May County Freeholder Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 4 Moore Road, Crest Haven.
Representatives of the authority and its consultants will be available to discuss the project informally between 4 and 6 p.m. The official public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. with a brief presentation by the authority followed by the opportunity for members of the public to make oral comments on the project on the record. All comments received, oral or written, will be responded to in a written public hearing report.
Written comments may also be submitted to the authority prior to the hearing and until Dec. 3, 2012, which is the official closing date of the comment period. Written comments should be addressed to:
Donald Chappa, P.E., Project Engineer
Hearing Officer
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
P.O. Box 5042
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-5042
(732) 750-5300