A $12 million transportation improvement project is planned for Cedar Bridge Avenue (County Route 528), aiming to enhance safety and mobility along one of Ocean County’s busiest corridors.

The project, funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, will cover the stretch from South Clifton Avenue to Airport Road in Lakewood Township. The roadway serves major commercial areas, community facilities, and key regional travel routes.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the corridor ranked highest in Ocean County for pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns and second overall for corridor safety issues on the agency’s 2023 network screening list.

“This project addresses longstanding safety issues along a vital corridor for our residents and visitors,” said Frank Sadeghi, director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and co-liaison to the county’s engineering department. He said the upgrades are intended to reduce crashes and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Planned improvements include upgraded traffic signals at six intersections, construction of a shared-use path for walkers and cyclists, widened shoulders, high-visibility crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, and improved roadway lighting.

Ray Gormley, also a co-liaison to the engineering department, said the project builds on earlier improvements completed in
2015 and 2017.

“These upgrades will allow the county to fully implement recommendations from a 2014 road safety audit,” Gormley said.

“Upgrading Cedar Bridge Avenue will benefit everyone who lives, works, and travels through Ocean County.”

Preliminary design work is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. Ocean County will oversee the project in cooperation with NJTPA, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and local officials.

County officials said the initiative reflects a continued commitment to roadway safety and long-term infrastructure planning as the region grows, with an emphasis on reducing accidents and improving access for all users.