Middletown Will Likely Repave Kings Highway, Widen Sidewalk, Add Lighting

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown is currently making plans to improve Kings Highway, the stretch from Rt. 35 near Town Hall to Conover Avenue.

There was a public information hearing on this Jan. 29 at the Township building for residents to learn more about the project and share feedback.

The project will rehabilitate Kings Highway and portions of nearby roadway segments to improve pavement conditions, safety and overall ride quality. Middletown received federal highway safety grants to do this. Here is the project website: middletownnj.org/2067/Kings-Highway-Improvement-Project

Current ideas the Township is thinking about doing include:

• Milling and resurfacing the roadway
• New high-visibility striping and upgraded signage
• Drainage inlet and pipe improvements
• Putting in ADA-compliant curb ramps
• Widening of existing sidewalk from Conover Avenue to New Monmouth Road
• Adding new lighting along the sidewalk corridor
• Possibly installing guiderails, which are these things.

None of these plans are set yet, said the Twp. The contractor that would do the work is T&M Associates, and Middletown is still collecting resident feedback about what the public would like to see done there. If you could not make the Jan. 29 meeting, or have questions or more comments, contact Project Manager at Mike Misiaszek at either 732-615-2099 or mmisiaszek@middletownnj.org.

Why Is This Project Needed?

The existing pavement in that section of Kings Highway has deteriorated over time, said Middletown. If left unaddressed, conditions will continue to worsen and could lead to more costly repairs in the future. Improving the roadway now will:

• Extend the life of the road
• Improve driving conditions
• Reduce long-term maintenance costs
• Improve safety