Politics & Government

Route 35 Project Could Include Bayfront Access in Seaside Heights

Project to kick off just after Labor Day weekend

The $265 million reconstruction of Route 35 on Ocean County's northern barrier island could include increased pedestrian access to the bayfront in Seaside Heights, officials said.

Since the highway was first constructed, the borough has been "disconnected" from Barnegat Bay, said Mayor Bill Akers in a meeting Thursday afternoon with state Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson.

Route 35 currently runs along the bay, and while there are sandy bay beaches just west of the highway itself, there is little to no safe public access.

"When the kids get out of school they want to run across, and there's nothing there," said Akers. "We certainly need a way to get the people over there safely. Our bayfront is completely cut off from our town."

Akers said the borough council will put its concerns in a resolution or a letter that will be passed to the DOT.

"We're going to get you something there," said Simpson, who said he was amenable to including bay access if possible.

Akers also suggested the DOT study reconfiguring access to the borough from the Route 37 bridge, to which Route 35 connects. Currently, vehicles are funneled to Sumner Avenue or Bay Boulevard, while Grant Avenue – the borough's widest street, Akers said – would be a better option.

DOT officials said electrical transmission towers in the area could prevent a new ramp to be built to accomplish that, but it would be looked into.

Simpson, Akers and other officials also visited the borough's Home Depot store to discuss the project with residents. DOT spokesman Joe Dee said department personnel would be making visits to several local communities this summer to discuss the project, which will likely get underway within a few weeks of the Labor Day holiday.


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