Final improvements to Hooper Avenue, Brick Boulevard to be done this summer

It's among the most heavily traveled roadways in Ocean County, but by this summer the Brick Boulevard-Hooper Avenue corridor linking Dover and Brick townships will be almost a totally new roadway.

Work will wrap up later this spring on the final improvements to Brick Boulevard between Yorktowne and Beaverson boulevards.

The $3 million reconstruction project is the second phase of work on Brick Boulevard. Last year, new lanes and improved intersections were completed from Beaverson Boulevard north to Duquesne Boulevard at a cost of $13 million.

Included in the work were major improvements to the Brick Boulevard intersections at Drum Point Road and Beaverson Boulevard. The project also extended Beaverson Boulevard east to Hooper Avenue, according to the press release.

The traffic pattern at Drum Point Road and Brick Boulevard was updated with a new two-phase signal that replaced the old three-phase signal at the intersection.

A third travel lane has also been added in both directions from Duquesne Boulevard south to Drum Point Road.

The project also includes an extensive storm drainage system and the reconstruction of two bridges.

Improvements were not limited to the Brick section of corridor.

The county has already repaved Hooper Avenue near the Ocean County mall with a new pavement mix dubbed "Superpave" that will last longer than traditional asphalt and prevent rutting in the roadway, said Freeholder James F. Lacey, liaison to the Ocean County Road Department.

Superpave will again be used to resurface Hooper Avenue from Bay Avenue south to Water Street.

The $900,000 project will be completed this summer, Kelly said.