Parkway Work Shifts to South End

CORRECTION: This version has been edited to correct a quote that was incorrectly attributed to Feeney.
COLD SPRING – The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has been busy on the lower portion of Garden State Parkway in recent years; progress can be painful as many lower Cape May County motorists have come to realize as the three traffic signals have been removed between exits 9 and 11.
Now, work has begun on another improvement to the lower parkway. The “Exit Zero Project” has received less publicity, but, according to Turnpike Authority spokesperson Thomas Feeney, the improvements to the intersection of Route 109, Ocean Drive and Garden State Parkway will take center stage in the county for the next year or so.
According to Feeney “The Exit Zero project was designed to address safety issues where the parkway meets Route 109. It involves reconstructing the Parkway-109 intersection and building a jug handle for vehicles entering the northbound parkway.”
He added “The final public hearing on the project was held in May. A $7.4-million construction contract was awarded in August to South State Inc. of Bridgeton.”
The project will improve and widen the access to the Garden State Parkway from Ferry Road (Route 109) that has been a risky proposition especially during the summer season. The project will also reengineer the Ocean Drive access to Wildwood Crest to make that turn safer as well.
Daily travelers in that area have seen construction work at that intersection, as well as areas just north of the intersection as preparation continued over the last week to 10 days.
Although some traffic has needed to be controlled up to now, Feeney stated that no complete closures will be required to complete the work. Feeney advised there will be “at least one lane open in each direction of 109 throughout construction. Access to and from Ocean Drive and to the U-turns in both directions near Ninth Avenue will be maintained at all times.”
Access to all of the residences and businesses in the area will be maintained at all times as well.
Feeney added that soon, when the contractor begins working on the drainage pipes, there will be localized single lane closures on Route 109. The authority will send out an advisory about those closures prior to and during the work periods.
“Once those are completed, (Route) 109 through the construction area will be reduced to one lane in each direction to facilitate the installation of new median curb and adjoining roadway construction. The Turnpike Authority will send out an advisory before the traffic shifts into that configuration. “
The Herald will monitor the project and provide timely updates for motorists as the project unfolds.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.