JACKSON — Mayor Jennifer Kuhn said township residents can expect limited traffic disruptions during construction of the County Route 539 Overpass Project, a major safety and infrastructure improvement near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The project, being advanced with Monmouth and Ocean county engineers, Joint Base officials and project engineers, is designed to improve traffic flow and safety along the CR 539 corridor.
CR 539 currently separates portions of the Joint Base, requiring military vehicles and convoys to cross traffic at Ridge Way or travel on CR 539. Officials said that can create safety concerns, delays and operational issues.
The project calls for a grade-separated overpass carrying CR 539 over Ridge Way. The elevated roadway will be built west of the current alignment, allowing traffic to continue during construction.
The project is in the final design phase, with authorization to advertise expected later this year. Construction is anticipated to begin in the winter and continue through late 2028.
Officials said one lane of traffic is expected to remain open in each direction during most phases. Temporary nighttime lane closures and delays may occur as traffic patterns shift.
“This project represents an important investment in public safety, traffic management, and coordination with Joint Base operations,” Kuhn said. “While projects of this size naturally bring temporary inconveniences during construction, the long-term improvements to roadway safety and traffic flow will greatly benefit our residents, commuters, and the surrounding communities.”
Work will include site clearing, utility relocation, roadway realignment and final connections to the new overpass. Engineers said the current design reduces impacts to drivers and avoids major utility and environmental complications included in earlier concepts.
Officials said the project is not expected to send regular Joint Base traffic through nearby towns. Ridge Way is primarily used for military training operations and heavy equipment transport. Access to the “Hole-in-the-Wall” gate, which is heavily used by Joint Base contractors, will also remain a priority.
A Final Design Virtual Public Information Center is scheduled for the first two weeks of June. Residents will be able to review project details and submit comments. Public notices and roadway signs will be posted before the sessions.
Township officials said additional updates will be provided as the project moves forward.
