TEA-LU includes $4 million to improve County Route 85, also known as Western Boulevard, an alternate driving route to Route 9. The construction is for a two-lane, 2.2 mile road from Northern Boulevard to Route 9. The project will provide a missing link that allows drivers to bypass much of Route 9 traffic that forms in the highly developed and partly historic sections of Berkeley and Lacey Township. The office of the county engineer has planned the project.

The House approved the bill, 417-9. TEA-LU authorizes federal transportation projects like the Route 85 project for six years. It provides a total $284 billion in federal highway, transit and road safety funding through 2009. The legislation seeks to address problems of congestion, driver safety, and inefficient highway systems, and is expected to create of millions of new U.S. jobs in the transportation sector and related industries.

"Ocean County will receive $4 million over the next six years," Saxton said.

The Ocean County Engineering Department has identified Route 85 as in need of enhancements to improve traffic flow on Route 9.

"Improving our transportation system is the foundation for our communities' daily travels to work, school or recreation," Saxton said. "Route 9 is one of the busiest roads in the county which has seen a great deal of commercial development and north-to-south traffic. The hope is to alleviate some of the pressure on Route 9 with this project."

Saxton worked with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young to add the funds to the bill, which now goes to the Senate and is expected to be sent to the White House in June.