TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Prospect Street, a major connector road linking Lakewood Township to Cross Street, where a massive five lane highway is being proposed is getting required upgrades approved ahead the future Cross Street project.
Prospect Street connects Route 9 to Cross Street, where the commissioners have approved a give lane highway that will connect Toms River, Jackson, and Lakewood together.
The major infrastructure overhaul is headed for one of Lakewood’s busiest corridors, as officials greenlight a $6.55 million reconstruction project for Prospect Street, stretching from Cross Street to Route 9. The initiative, backed by Ocean County through a newly passed ordinance, will be primarily funded through $6 million in bonds or bond anticipation notes.
The move comes as traffic congestion and roadway deterioration have increasingly drawn complaints from commuters and residents. Ordinance #2025-37, adopted this week, authorizes the full-scale reconstruction of the vital thoroughfare that links residential zones with key commercial arteries in the township. The project is expected to modernize road surfaces, address stormwater drainage, and improve pedestrian safety along the heavily trafficked route in advance of the Cross Street project.
While the ordinance allocates $6.55 million toward the initiative, only $550,000 will come from local or county funds, with the rest financed through debt instruments. The use of bond anticipation notes offers flexibility for the County, allowing it to secure temporary financing while determining long-term borrowing strategies.
Prospect Street’s reconstruction is among the most significant infrastructure investments in the area in recent years. Township officials say the road upgrade is essential to accommodate Lakewood’s continued population growth and increased commercial traffic. The project’s timeline and construction phases have not yet been announced.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has launched a major infrastructure project to widen Cross Street into a five-lane corridor, creating a new east-west connector to serve the growing populations of Lakewood, Jackson and Toms River.
With the area’s rapid residential and commercial development, especially in Lakewood and Jackson, county officials said the expansion is aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic flow across key townships. The project stems from a master plan developed by the Ocean County Engineering Department.
“The improvements and widening of Cross Street will, upon completion, provide a five-lane connector road between Lakewood and Jackson,” Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi said.
The route is expected to help link the activity hub in Lakewood with the expanding residential neighborhoods and business areas in Jackson.
County officials, along with representatives from the affected municipalities, gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony this week. The event was described as a symbolic show of intergovernmental cooperation to meet the region’s growing infrastructure demands.
Population growth prompts regional traffic solution
The corridor plan is part of a broader effort by Ocean County to respond to the rising traffic pressure from increasing development in Jackson, Lakewood, and nearby Manchester Township. Officials emphasized that the county is working to be “agile and inventive” in adapting to changing needs.
“The groundbreaking was symbolic of the cooperation from the county and municipal officials to address the needs of our growing community,” said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi.
No construction timeline or project cost was announced at the ceremony. The county indicated additional phases may follow as part of continued infrastructure upgrades in the region.