After Years of Advocacy, Route 9 Widening in Lakewood Finally Moves Forward

Lakewood officials and New Jersey lawmakers say long-awaited improvements to Route 9 are finally on track, after state transportation leaders unveiled preliminary plans to expand the congested highway through the heart of town.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Francis K. O’Connor joined Lakewood’s municipal leaders and state legislators for a walking tour over the Route 9 bridge at Lake Carasalio during peak traffic hours. The visit offered an up-close view of the gridlock that has frustrated commuters and residents for years.

The tour drew an influential group: Senator Robert Singer, Assemblyman Sean Kean, Assemblyman Avi Schnall, Mayor Ray Coles, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, Township Manager Pat Donnelly, and members of the Lakewood Police Department’s Traffic and Safety Division.

In a follow-up meeting at The Residence, Commissioner O’Connor and his aides rolled out concept-stage plans to widen Route 9 from the bridge through Prospect Street. The proposal calls for expanding the road to as many as five lanes near Lake Carasalio, strategically placed turning lanes, broader sidewalks, and other infrastructure upgrades to ease bottlenecks.

“This is just the concept development phase,” O’Connor noted, outlining the process of review and community input that must follow. Still, officials said the project marks a major breakthrough in efforts to improve traffic flow not just on Route 9 itself but across Lakewood’s sprawling side streets.

Mayor Ray Coles called the announcement a “gratifying” moment for Lakewood residents long plagued by backups along the highway. “Lakewood is fortunate to have the DOT as a partner in the effort to eliminate one of main areas of Lakewood traffic congestion. We look forward to continue working together towards this goal,” he said.

Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein emphasized that the town’s unique traffic patterns — lighter volumes on weekends, summers, and holidays — could allow roadwork to be conducted with minimal disruption. “Lakewood Township stands ready to help the State move this process along in the most effective and least disruptive manner possible,” he said.

Senator Singer credited years of advocacy and coordination between municipal leaders, state lawmakers, and Beth Medrash Govoha administration officials for moving the project forward. “The proposed improvements can be very helpful in the near term, though our ultimate goal remains the full dualization of Route 9 through South Lakewood,” Singer said.

Assemblyman Sean Kean underscored the bipartisan effort: “It is beautiful to see so many officials of both parties get together on behalf of the common good and achieve real results.”

Assemblyman Avi Schnall, who has pushed Route 9 improvements as a priority since entering office, said the project reflects a commitment from state officials to understand and address Lakewood’s unique infrastructure challenges.

“I would like to thank Commissioner O’Connor for his commitment to Lakewood’s infrastructure needs, and for sharing his vision regarding the road ahead,” Schnall said. “I look forward to continue working at both the State and local levels to ensure that the work to alleviate Lakewood’s pressing traffic needs proceeds, and that residents will continue to see real progress on the ground.”

The widening project now enters the state’s formal development pipeline. Community input and environmental review are expected in the coming months before plans are finalized.

For Lakewood’s commuters — many of whom spend hours each week in Route 9 traffic — the promise of relief may finally be within reach.