New Jersey Turnpike Set To Open Newly Expanded Stretch
BORDENTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A long-awaited widening project on the New Jersey Turnpike is finally wrapping up.
The $2.3 billion expansion means there will be six lanes, rather than three, in each direction between Interchange 6 in Burlington County and Interchange 9 in Middlesex County, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
The northbound transition will begin Friday night, and the southbound lanes will open next weekend.
"Doubling the roadway capacity we expect is going to greatly reduce the number of delays," said Tom Feeney, Turnpike Authority spokesman.
Roger Anderson said he is familiar with the merge from six lanes to three. On an average day, traffic through the bottleneck has slowed to a crawl. On a bad day, it's been a frustrating stop-and-go.
"I have a stick shift," he said. "I have a sports car, so I have manual transmission. It's agony."
Feeney said a past toll hike is paying for the widening.
The expansion took five years to complete.
"It's the largest capacity expansion in the history of the New Jersey Turnpike," Feeney noted.
Drivers said they believe it's going to make a big difference.
"I think it's going to be great because traffic will really move," one man said.
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