Completing Route 55

To the Editor: 
For many years there has been talk about completing Route 55 from its current southern terminus at Port Elizabeth to Cape May. For now, most shore-bound travelers continue via Route 47 and the Route 347 bypass which reconnects with Route 47 on its way to its conclusion in Wildwood. To my knowledge, no plan has been adopted for the task, though a study has been funded and several ideas have been suggested, e.g., Senator Jeff Van Drew’s elevated highway approach.
It is my understanding that all the plans proposed have met with some opposition for one reason or other: environmental concerns, disruption to existing structures or communities along the path and a general dose of NIMBY (not in my backyard.) Should the work also connect with the Parkway by some cross-county expressway? There are lots of unanswered questions, but essentially nothing is close to getting started. Rights of way have to be obtained. It would seem logical to use the existing 47-347-47 corridor by widening the road. That may be easier said than done. Whatever happens, whenever, it will be the responsibility of the South Jersey Transportation Authority to plan and execute. The challenge is daunting but it is far from impossible. It will need strong support of citizens of both Cape May and Cumberland counties with the will to see it done. The task that takes the longest to complete is one that never gets started!  It is past time to get started!
There’s an obvious benefit for travelers currently slogging it out through the 47-347-47 big squeeze and the citizens who endure the seasonal auto crawl through their communities. There are other possible benefits for us who live here. The off-season economy is relatively poor with few major employment opportunities, especially with a shortage of light manufacturing or financial institution jobs. The annual economy depends most on the seasonal influx of vacationers and day trippers. Cape May County may be viewed as a business with our seasonal visitors as customers. One solid principle of business is: make it easy for customers to do business with you. Easier access to venues and activities here should encourage folks to keep coming and people with second homes here to come more often.
What impact better access may have on attracting businesses to the area is unknown but it should help. Light manufacturing industries might find it more attractive to locate here if their products can be shipped more efficiently. Job growth could induce young people with education and skills to stay here. The county population is diminishing and aging. Young people with skills are leaving the area to find work. From a safety standpoint, a limited-access, completed Route 55 would be safer than the windy two-lane roads users must navigate. Emergency exits from the county would be enhanced with the removal of the choking effects of the 47-347-47 corridor. Environmentally, eliminating the gas-burning, polluting weekend/holiday auto crawl is a plus.
One can express support for the 55 completion by letters like this to the Herald (our freeholders and other elected officials are readers) or by attending freeholder meetings at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Crest Haven county Administration Building, Court House, or the fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. there. Make your voices heard. Without robust citizen support, finishing Route 55 can’t happen.