LAKEWOOD — A $12 million county-led transportation project is planned to improve safety and mobility along a busy stretch of Cedar Bridge Avenue, officials announced.
The project will focus on Cedar Bridge Avenue (County Route 528) between South Clifton Avenue and Airport Road, one of Ocean County’s most heavily traveled corridors. Funding is being provided through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, with Ocean County overseeing the work.
County officials said the roadway serves major commercial destinations, community facilities and regional travel routes, while also presenting long-standing safety concerns. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s 2023 network screening list, the corridor ranked first in Ocean County for pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns and second overall for corridor safety issues.
“This project addresses longstanding safety issues along a vital corridor for our residents and visitors,” said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, co-liaison to the county engineering department. He said the planned upgrades are expected to reduce crashes and provide safer options for pedestrians and cyclists in Lakewood Township.
Improvements include upgraded traffic signals at six intersections and construction of a shared-use path designed to better accommodate people walking and biking. Additional work will include widened shoulders, high-visibility crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and enhanced roadway lighting.
Commissioner Ray Gormley, also a co-liaison to the engineering department, said the project builds on earlier safety improvements completed along other sections of Cedar Bridge Avenue in 2015 and 2017. He said the work will allow the county to fully implement recommendations from a road safety audit completed in 2014.
Preliminary design work is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. The project will be coordinated with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Lakewood Township officials.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners said the investment reflects an ongoing commitment to improving roadway safety while planning for future growth, adding that modern infrastructure upgrades are critical to protecting residents and supporting local communities.
