New Parkway Lanes, Near Manahawkin and Galloway, Open In Time for July 4th Travel

Most of the second phase of the Garden State Parkway widening is open to traffic in time for July 4th holiday travel, officials say.

A new lane opened in each direction this week between Exit 63 in Stafford Township and milepost 54.5 in Bass River Township. The rest of the second phase, between mileposts 54.5 and 48, will open when the rehabilitation of the Bass River Bridge is complete in 2015.

The Turnpike Authority is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to improve and restore the southern section of the Parkway in Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic and Cape May counties, officials say.

The widening is the largest of the projects underway. The first phase of the widening, which added a third lane in each direction from milepost 80 in Toms River to milepost 63 in Stafford Township, opened to traffic just before Memorial Day Weekend in 2011.

The third and final phase, from mile post 48 to mile post 35, is in final design. Construction contracts are expected to be awarded in 2014.

Other projects underway, or soon to be underway, include the construction of full interchanges at mileposts 41 and 44; a new State Police facility in Galloway Township; new bridges over the Bass River, the Mullica River, Drag Channel and Great Egg Harbor; new facilities at the Atlantic City and Ocean View service areas; and new overpasses at three Lower Township interchanges now controlled  by traffic lights. 

The Turnpike Authority is also restoring full-width shoulders and travel lanes to make the Parkway safer between mileposts 83 and 100 in Ocean and Monmouth counties.