Representatives from Ocean County, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) held an information session Tuesday night about a proposal to add another exit to the Garden State Parkway in Toms River.

GSP Exit 83 Proposal
GSP Exit 83 Proposal
(Megan Madison, Townsquare Media)
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The plan would add an exit ramp at Milepost 83 Southbound - combined with the existing exit Northbound, the proposal would make Exit 83 a full interchange.  The hope is that giving drivers another option for reaching destinations in Toms River would alleviate congestion on local surface roads like Route 9 and Hooper and New Hampshire Avenues.  Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino says that's especially important at the intersection of Route 9 and County Route 571.

"It has almost three times the state average for a state highway intersection in terms of traffic accident incidents, and a vast majority of those are the northbound left-turn movement," said Scarantino.  "Taking that move out will eliminate that conflict completely."

GSP Exit 83 Proposal
GSP Exit 83 Proposal
(Megan Madison, Townsquare Media)
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The preliminary plan currently making its way through the design process would accomplish that by funneling traffic from the new exit onto Lomell Lane.  Scarantino says their studies also showed the new route would cut travel time during peak usage hours,especially for certain destinations in Toms River.

"I can tell you, as a Toms River resident and a resident on Bay Lea Road, that I would use this exit every day," Scarantino said.

Scarantino says - if the plan is approved, the project could be completed in three to four years.  To view the preliminary plan and keep up to date about future public meetings, click here.

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