Atlantic City Expressway Third Lane Project Details Revealed

Our community now has a detailed look at one of South Jersey's most significant infrastructure projects in decades. The South Jersey Transportation Authority has launched an updated online Virtual Public Information Center for the long-planned Atlantic City Expressway third-lane widening project, giving residents and commuters the chance to review the latest designs and construction plans.

Through Thursday, May 22, 2026, the public is invited to visit the project website, ACEWidening.com, to review a video presentation explaining the project, the need for the expansion, and the planned implementation schedule. The site also includes downloadable PDF documents, maps, and supporting materials.

What's Changing on Our Expressway

The expansion will begin near Washington Township and extend approximately 14 miles through Gloucester Township and Winslow Township. Once complete, the entire Atlantic City Expressway corridor will feature three travel lanes in each direction from end to end—a significant upgrade for those of us who regularly make the trek to the shore or Atlantic City.

While drivers are already familiar with portions of the eastern Atlantic City Expressway that feature three lanes in each direction, this project will complete the widening effort across the remaining sections of the highway. The expansion will utilize the undeveloped median area between eastbound and westbound traffic, minimizing environmental impacts.

Construction Timeline Moves Up

Here's welcome news for commuters eager to see congestion relief: construction is anticipated to begin later this year and continue for approximately five years through 2031. This represents a faster timeline than previously reported—two years ago, officials indicated construction likely would not start until 2028.

Final design work is taking place now and expected to continue through 2027. Project officials have divided the design work into multiple segments to manage the complexity of this major undertaking.

Why This Matters for Our Community

The Atlantic City Expressway serves as one of South Jersey's most heavily traveled highways, connecting the Philadelphia metropolitan area to the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City. The roadway begins in Washington Township, where it branches from Route 42, and stretches roughly 45 miles to Atlantic City.

Originally constructed in the early 1960s and opened in 1965, the Atlantic City Expressway initially featured two lanes in each direction. Over time, portions near Atlantic City and the Garden State Parkway were widened to handle growing traffic volumes. This latest effort addresses the remaining bottleneck sections that have frustrated drivers for years.

Officials say the project is designed to reduce congestion, particularly during busy summer travel periods, while improving traffic flow and safety for motorists traveling to and from the Jersey Shore. The South Jersey Transportation Authority believes the combination of all-electronic tolling—which transitioned earlier this year—and a fully widened three-lane Expressway will create a smoother, faster, and safer driving experience for decades to come.

Route 42 Interchange Gets Major Upgrades

One of the more complex portions of the project involves the western end of the Atlantic City Expressway where it connects to Route 42 (Black Horse Pike) in Washington Township. Plans call for widening and reconstruction of the existing bridge over Sicklerville Road, along with new bridge structures which carry the local westbound side of the Black Horse Pike (heading to Route 42 North) as it crosses over top of all lanes of the AC Expressway.

Additional improvements include widening the westbound exit ramp to Sicklerville Road to add another lane, along with longer acceleration and deceleration lanes in the Route 42 area to improve traffic movement and safety. These changes should help ease the merge challenges many of us experience during rush hour.

Project plans also show proposed noise walls in portions of Winslow Township and Monroe Township, addressing quality-of-life concerns for residents living near the highway.

Your Voice Matters

The project has now advanced into its final design phase, and officials are seeking input from residents and commuters while sharing updated plans. Construction documents outline planned traffic detours that will be needed during various development phases, particularly during bridge replacement and expansion work near Sicklerville Road.

Motorists and residents are encouraged to review the Virtual Public Information Center materials and provide feedback while the comment period remains open through May 22. The Atlantic City Expressway widening project is being managed by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which oversees both the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City International Airport.

To learn more and share your thoughts, visit ACEWidening.com before the Thursday deadline.