BRICK – Ocean County will lead a federally funded transportation study aimed at improving safety and easing congestion in one of Brick Township’s busiest areas.
The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees approved $1 million in federal funding at its January meeting. The study will concentrate on the Brick Boulevard intersection with Hooper Avenue on one side and Chambers Bridge Road on the other.
Officials say high traffic volumes, frequent crashes and complicated turning movements create ongoing safety and congestion problems. These roads also include numerous driveways and wide intersections that pose challenges for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, particularly during peak commuting hours.
“These corridors are among the most heavily traveled in Ocean County,” said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, who represents the county on the NJTPA board. “This study will help us identify improvements that make travel safer and more reliable for residents, commuters and local businesses.”
As part of the Local Concept Development process, planners will review a range of potential solutions, including revised lane configurations, upgraded traffic signals, safer driveway access, and improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Environmental impacts, right-of-way needs, engineering constraints and overall corridor operations will also be evaluated.
The study will conclude with the selection of a preferred alternative to advance into preliminary engineering. County officials said improvements along Brick Boulevard, Hooper Avenue and Chambers Bridge Road are expected to reduce crashes, cut travel times and improve safety for all users along these corridors that serve tens of thousands of people each day.
County officials noted that continued growth in Brick Township and neighboring Lakewood Township, combined with seasonal shore traffic, has placed increasing strain on the road network and extended delays during the summer months.
Funding for the effort comes through the Local Concept Development phase of the NJTPA’s Local Capital Project Delivery Program for fiscal year 2026. Completion of this phase allows projects to compete for future federal funding for design and construction.
Ocean County and the NJTPA expect to begin selecting a consultant this spring, with the study scheduled to start in winter 2026. The board approved a total of $4 million at its January 12 meeting to support four transportation studies, three of which were in other counties.
