Lakewood Township Introduces New Turn Lane To Boost Safety, Ease Congestion

Lakewood Township Committee greenlit a no-parking zone Thursday on East End Avenue between East Harvard Street and County Line Road. Why? To carve out space for a left-turn lane. Ocean County built the turning lane after township leaders asked them to step in and fix safety problems while cutting down on jams at the intersection.

Township leaders said the no-parking rule keeps the lane clear. Without it, cars might block the path and create hazards.

Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein said the whole thing started when someone who lives nearby pitched the idea. The project shows what can happen when township officials, county workers, and residents put their heads together to untangle traffic knots and make life better for people who drive through the area every day.

The vote happened Dec. 4. The restriction covers every inch of East End Avenue between those two streets.

County workers answered the township's call by installing the left-turn lane right at the intersection. It's supposed to help drivers move through without crashing while stopping the pileups that happen when everyone's trying to get somewhere at once.

Officials think these changes will fix the traffic headaches plaguing residents. The no-parking zone means cars can use every bit of the turning lane without dodging vehicles parked along the curb.

The lane's already there on East End Avenue, ready to go. Drivers can start making their left turns while the no-parking rules kick in.