New traffic patterns planned at Rts. 35 & 36 BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer EATONTOWN - The N.J. Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing to change traffic patterns at the Routes 35 and 36 intersection in the borough to clear up congestion for drivers. The proposed changes call for a complete renovation at the interchange, including the construction of additional turning lanes and jughandles, according to Erin Phalon, DOT spokeswoman. "[The project]will involve operational and safety improvements at the intersection of Route 35 andRoute 36 and straightenRoute 35's horizontal alignment across the intersection," Phalon said. "The big changes are the new turning maneuvers thatwill simplify getting through the Route 35 and Route 36 area," she added. Plans call for a new jughandle to be constructed at the intersection to allow drivers traveling east onRoute 36 to accessRoute 35 north, according to Phalon. Construction of a new dual left-turn lane is included in the plans to allow vehicles traveling south on Route 35 to make a left turn onto Route 36, Phalon said. The current layout of the intersection requires drivers to take a jughandle from Route 35 to Route 36, which can cause "significant" traffic delays, Phalon said. "The project will also realign eastbound Route 36 to alleviate the lane drop in the left lane," Phalon said, adding that a ramp will also be constructed to connect northbound Route 35 with eastbound Route 36. Plans include adding acceleration and deceleration lanes on both roads to allow vehicles to merge onto and off the ramp, according to Phalon. The plans also call for additional overhead and road-level signage, additional lighting, shoulders and upgraded traffic signals for vehicles entering and exiting the MonmouthMall, according to Phalon. "Pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the area will also see an upgrade with the addition of crosswalks and sidewalks in the area of the mall," she said. Eatontown Borough Administrator George Jackson said, "We are looking forward to the work." TheDOT is seeking to acquire land at the rear portion of theMacy's Furniture and Fortunoff parking lots on Route 35 in order to construct a road to connect Route 35 with Wall Street and Parker Road, Jackson said. The proposed traffic-pattern changeswill not adversely affect any businesses in the area, according to Jackson, who said there may be some issues for people entering and exiting the Pathmark Shopping Center onto Route 36. The project is a part of a federally funded statewide transportation improvement program and the repairs in Eatontown are expected to cost $17 million, according to Phalon. The Eatontown project will extend east from Route 36 and Wyckoff Road to the Eatontown and Long Branch border, and north from the Route 35 light atMonmouth Mall toWyckoff Road, according to Phalon. Construction on the project is expected to begin sometime in 2009 and will take approximately two years to complete, according to Phalon, who said the new road patterns are planned to be completed in 2011.