New signals, speed changes and safety upgrades planned at key intersections
Toms River, NJ – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved a series of traffic safety improvements Wednesday, targeting multiple intersections and roadways across Jackson, Lakewood, Manchester, and other municipalities.
The measures include new traffic signal installations, signal timing revisions, and roadway safety changes aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing accidents on heavily traveled county roads.
The most notable project includes a new traffic signal installation in Lakewood at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Chestnut Street, a busy corridor that has seen increased traffic in recent years.
Signal upgrades across multiple towns
Several intersections in Jackson will see traffic signal revisions under the approved plan, including:
- Jackson Mills Road and Harmony Road
- East Veterans Highway, Butterfly Road, and Grand Boulevard
In Lakewood, improvements will also include signal revisions at North Hope Chapel Road and North Lake Drive.
Manchester Township will see updates at Ridgeway Road and Renaissance Drive, another key intersection serving residential and commercial traffic.
Additional signal revisions were approved in Toms River, Berkeley, Barnegat, and Lacey, including at major corridors such as Hooper Avenue near the Ocean County Mall.
Key Points
- New traffic signal approved for New Hampshire Avenue and Chestnut Street in Lakewood
- Multiple intersections in Jackson, Lakewood, and Manchester set for signal revisions
- Changes aim to improve safety, traffic flow, and reduce congestion
Additional road safety changes
Beyond signals, the county also approved adjustments to roadway safety features.
In Jackson, officials authorized changes to no-passing zones along Frank Applegate Road (Butterfly Road), a move intended to reduce unsafe passing in rural or high-speed areas.
Speed zone adjustments were also approved along West Princeton Avenue in Brick and River Road in both Brick and Point Pleasant.
Focus on congestion and safety
County officials did not release specific timelines for when construction or signal changes will begin, but the approvals mark the first step in implementing upgrades across the county’s road network.
The projects come as traffic volumes continue to rise across Ocean County, particularly in fast-growing communities like Jackson and Lakewood, where infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with development.
Officials said the coordinated improvements are designed to modernize traffic control systems and address known problem areas.
Detailed Updates of passed resolutions at the meeting
TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
- Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with the Township of Lakewood for the
installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of County Road #93 (Route 623-New
Hampshire Avenue) and County Road #40 (Chestnut Street), Township of Lakewood.
(LKWD-84) - Authorizing the alteration of No Passing Zones along County Road #8 (Frank
Applegate Road-Butterfly Road), Township of Jackson. - Authorizing the alteration of Speed Zones along County Road #40 (West Princeton
Avenue), Township of Brick. - Authorizing the alteration of Speed Zones along County Road #67 (River Road),
Township of Brick and Borough of Point Pleasant. - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #2
(Route 554-West Bay Avenue) and County Road #11 (Nautilus Drive), Township of
Barnegat. (BRNT-7) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #91
(Route 621-Grand Central Parkway) and Northern Boulevard (formerly Northern
Boulevard and Park Avenue), Township of Berkeley. (BRKLY-17) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #11
(Route 549-Hooper Avenue) and Ocean County Mall and Bey Lea Plaza, Township
of Toms River. (DVR-20) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #54
(Route 571-Route 549 Spur-Fischer Boulevard) and County Road #27 (Route 571-
Bay Avenue), Township of Toms River. (DVR-33) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #22
(Route 638-Jackson Mills Road) and County Road #18 (Harmony Road), Township
of Jackson. (JK-28) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #5
(Route 527-East Veterans Highway) and County Road #8 (Butterfly Road) and Grand
Boulevard, Township of Jackson. (JK-43) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #33
(Route 614-Lacey Road) and Newark Avenue, Township of Lacey. (LCY-6) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #3
(Route 639-North Hope Chapel Road) and North Lake Drive, Township of
Lakewood. (LKWD-36) - Authorizing the revision of a Traffic Signal at the intersection of County Road #27
(Route 571-Ridgeway Road) and Renaissance Drive, Township of Manchester.
(MAN-9)