Plumsted Township, NJ — A long-planned overpass project along County Route 539 near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst moved closer to construction this week, with township officials confirming the project has entered its final design phase and could break ground this winter. The project aims to reduce traffic conflicts and improve safety along one of the region’s busiest military-adjacent corridors while maintaining traffic flow for local drivers throughout construction.
The proposed grade-separated overpass will carry CR 539 over Ridge Way, a military roadway used for heavy equipment transport and training operations inside Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The current roadway layout forces military convoys and vehicles to cross active traffic lanes or travel directly on CR 539, creating delays and operational concerns for both military personnel and civilian motorists.
Township officials said the project represents a major long-term investment in transportation infrastructure and public safety for surrounding communities in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
The U.S. House on Thursday passed the INVEST in America Act, which would provide critical funding for projects in Burlington and Ocean counties and help create good paying jobs.
Written into the bill are several priorities championed by U.S. Reps. Andy Kim (D-03) and Chris Smith (R-04). Among them is the Route 539 overpass project aimed at allowing military convoys to more easily travel back and forth between both sections of the (JBMDL), expanding the space where National Guard and Reserve forces can train.
The funding for the project was approved in 2021 and took years of wrangling by the local congressman.
“This important project will greatly reduce congestion on County Road 537 and Route 70 and enhance the safety of commuters by keeping military vehicles off these major roadways, which currently serve as common routes for travel across the base,” said Congressman Chrs Smith.
Construction Planned Through Late 2028
Project engineers and county officials said the updated roadway design places the new elevated alignment west of the existing CR 539 roadway. That approach allows crews to keep vehicles moving during most construction phases and avoids the larger utility and environmental complications tied to earlier concepts.
Officials said one lane of travel in each direction is expected to remain open through most of the project. Drivers may still encounter periodic nighttime lane closures and temporary traffic slowdowns as crews shift traffic patterns between construction stages.
Construction is expected to continue through late 2028 and will occur in several phases, including:
“The projects I’m fighting for represent a cross section of what I hear from our neighbors back home: the need to secure our Joint Base, the need to make high traffic areas safer for our families, and the need to get our communities ready for the future,” U.S. Senator Andy Kim said.
The bill sets aside funding for each project at:
- Route 130 – $17.3 million
- Route 539 – $8 million
- Seaside Heights – $400,000
- Willingboro – $800,000
“I’m proud to see this pass through the House with support from Republican colleagues from our region, and I’ll continue to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to deliver on these priorities and to make sure New Jersey has the infrastructure improvements we deserve,” Kim added.
In addition to the listed local projects, the INVEST in America Act also incorporated the bipartisan Better Utilizing Infrastructure for Lasting Development of (BUILD) Veterans Businesses Act, and provisions of the bipartisan Resilient Highways Act, both of which were recently introduced by Kim.
- Site clearing and utility relocation
- Roadway realignment work
- Overpass construction
- Final roadway tie-ins
Authorization to advertise the project for bidding is anticipated later this year.
Key Points
• CR 539 overpass project near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst enters final design stage
• Construction could begin this winter and continue through late 2028
• Officials expect limited traffic disruptions with lanes remaining open in both directions
Military Access and Local Traffic Concerns Addressed
One of the primary concerns raised during planning involved whether military traffic would be rerouted through nearby communities during construction. Township officials said that is not expected to happen.
According to project planners, Ridge Way primarily serves military training operations and heavy equipment transport rather than regular daily base traffic. Officials also emphasized the importance of maintaining access to the heavily used “Hole-in-the-Wall” gate, which serves contractors working at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The overpass project has been developed through coordination between township officials, Monmouth and Ocean County engineers, Joint Base representatives, and project engineering teams.
Officials said the current roadway configuration creates operational bottlenecks because County Route 539 effectively divides portions of the military installation. Military vehicles crossing the corridor at grade can slow civilian traffic while also presenting safety concerns during convoy movement.
The updated design intends to separate those traffic movements entirely, improving reliability for commuters while allowing military operations to continue more efficiently.
Public Information Sessions Scheduled for June
Residents will have an opportunity to review plans and submit feedback during a Final Design Virtual Public Information Center scheduled for the first two weeks of June. Township officials said additional public notices and roadway signage will be posted before the sessions begin.
Township officials said they plan to continue sharing updates throughout the multiyear project as additional construction schedules and traffic information become available.
The CR 539 overpass project remains in final design review, with construction expected to begin during the upcoming winter season pending final authorization and bidding approvals.