After nearly a decade of painstaking work, both phases of a comprehensive road project in Lakewood’s southern tip are now complete. The Vermont Avenue extension between Chestnut Street and Route 70 is now complete and open, creating a new thoroughfare for Lakewood motorists to reach Toms River and beyond.
Until now, there were only two – Route Nine and New Hampshire Avenue.
The addition of this thoroughfare will, no doubt, improve traffic flow on roads throughout the area. The opening of this extension – and activation of its traffic signal – builds upon other improvements, including left turn lanes and signals at the Route 70 and Vermont Avenue intersection, and improved drainage. These are in addition to Chestnut Street improvements in the works at the County level, which are set to widen the roadway and improve traffic flow on that busy road.
Lakewood Township Engineer Terry Vogt of Remington and Vernick relates that the road leading to this day entailed several twists and turns. Chestnut Street is a County Road and Route 70 is a State Road. Building and improving the roads entailed the maneuvering of myriad environmental and regulatory obstacles and bureaucratic red tape.
But hard work and persistence ultimately paid off. Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein and other Township officials; Engineer Vogt and his team; among others; worked tirelessly until the project was completed in the most optimal manner. “We appreciate the faith and support we received from the Township at every step of this lengthy process,” says Mr. Vogt. “Like everyone else, we now look forward to improved traffic flow on our commutes through town!”
