Lacey Road in Whiting Receives $4.3M in Funding

Two miles of busy Lacey Road in Whiting will get $4.3 million worth of improvements that Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino says are designed to “improve pedestrian and vehicle safety.’’

The work will be done between Route 539 and Schoolhouse Road, include a new traffic signal at Cherry Street, and the reconstruction of four other intersections, he said.

A newly reactivated railroad crossing and 4,000 feet of sidewalks will be installed. Changes also will be made to the Station Road intersection to improve safety there, Scarantino explained.

The county’s freeholders are expected to approve advertising for bids for the work at their April 20 meeting at 4 p.m. in room 119 of the county Administration Building at 101 Hooper Ave, Toms River.

Late in May the freeholders expect to receive a report by T & M Associates of traffic impacts of the Joint Base at Lakehurst, McGuire and Fort Dix in 2015 and 2035.

The $700,000 study is being paid for by the U.S. Department of Defense and is looking at the impact of traffic from the base so improvements can be made to roads in Ocean and Burlington counties, according to county Planning Director David J. McKeon.

The base employs 30,000 people, with 3,700 more to be added. T&M has met with officials in 10 towns located within five miles of the base, looked at state car crash records, surveyed employees and counted cars at 9 base gates. A final report is due May 31.

McKeon said recommended improvements to highways will likely be eligible for federal funds.