Freeholders to OK contract for Massachusetts Ave. upgrades

TOMS RIVER — Widening and other improvements to Massachusetts Avenue across the Toms River-Lakewood boundary should start late this summer, with the Ocean County Board of Freeholders set to award a $1.67 million contract next week.

The more-than-a-mile stretch between Cross Street in Lakewood and Route 70 will include new turn lanes at entrances to two adult communities to ease congestion and improve safety in an area that's seeing ongoing population growth, county officials said Wednesday as the freeholders met to review their agenda for next week.

The project also will include improvements over a one-fifth mile section of Honey Locust Drive, Assistant County Engineer Frank S. Scarantino said.

Lucas Brothers Inc. of Morganville won the bid, which came in under the $2.5 million originally budgeted for the project, according to county officials. They expect the improvements will be complete by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, municipal officials in Plumsted will contribute $785,000 they have from a state Green Acres grant to help Ocean County acquire two parcels as public open space, Mayor Ronald S. Dancer told the freeholders.