Route 35, 36 Intersection Construction Complete

Headed away from the Rumson-Fair Haven area and toward the mall?

The Route 35/36 intersection construction project in Eatontown, next to the Monmouth Mal,l is complete after more than two years of work, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

The work began in April 2010, with the purpose of realigning and widening the existing intersection to "improve operational performance, reduce congestion and enhance safety," NJDOT Spokesman Timothy Greeley said.

"All of the major construction components of the project have been completed and the intersection is opened in it's new, final configuration," Greeley said. "The contractor is still on scene finishing punchlist items, cleaning up the area and closing out the contract, but the project is essentially done."

The $15 million road project .

Specific improvements provided at the intersection include:

• The realignment of all Route 35 travel lanes to the west, creating a straighter, more perpendicular intersection.

• New dual left-turn lanes along Route 35 southbound to replace the existing loop ramp in the southwest quadrant of the intersection.

• A deceleration lane along Route 35 northbound leading to a new ramp and acceleration lane, allowing a free-flow connection to Route 36 eastbound.

• A new loop-ramp connecting Route 36 eastbound to Route 35 northbound – this movement previously did not exist at the intersection.

• Extension of the existing left-most (third) lane on Route 36 eastbound, which previously ended approximately 800 feet east of the intersection causing unsafe conditions and bottleneck traffic.

• Reconstruction of the existing traffic signal to accommodate the new lane configuration at the intersection.

• Upgrades provided to the traffic signals at the Route 35/Monmouth Mall entrance intersection and the Route 36/NJ Motor Vehicle Commission facility intersection.

• New sidewalks and cross walks provided and access modifications made to commercial property driveways throughout the intersection.

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