Atlantic City Expressway Lane Project Targets 2034 Completion

The South Jersey Transportation Authority is moving ahead with a project costing more than $400 million to add a continuous third lane to the Atlantic City Expressway and ease congestion, improve safety and make Shore trips more reliable. Reports differ on the project’s scope: one describes a 47-mile corridor, while another specifies a 12-mile stretch from near Route 42 to milepost 31.6, consistent with the previously described stretch between Routes 42 and 73. The project is divided into three contracts, with the first phase expected to run from 2027 through 2029 and overall completion projected by 2034; work also includes improvements to bridges over the Great Egg Harbor River and Sicklerville Road. A new right-turn lane at the Sicklerville Road exit could ease backups as soon as summer 2027. The project’s estimated cost has risen substantially from about $180 million when plans were announced in 2022, and officials say more predictable travel could benefit Shore businesses, visitors and the regional economy.