After a bruising report from Lakewood Alerts earlier this week, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners this afternoon wiped the agenda of a planned vote to put Cross Street upgrades on the agenda for today’s meeting.
The agenda had included a vote on a motion “approving the plans and specifications and authorizing the County Engineer to advertise for the receipt of bids for the reconstruction of Cross Street, Route 626, from Augusta Boulevard to State Highway Route 9, Lakewood Township,” which would have added turning lanes into Eagle Ridge.
Multiple officials who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed out that the so-called upgrades were both more likely to eventually lead to worsened traffic on Cross Street and that special interests, specifically powerful individuals with a vested interest in those upgrades, had pushed the Commissioners to approve them.
Additionally, it was noted that the focus of the work is on the wrong side of Cross, as the roadway from Route 9 to Augusta Blvd. is the least congested part of Cross Street.
The report made its rounds around the county and the motion was ultimately withdrawn this afternoon prior to the Board of Commissioner’s 4 pm meeting.