A $15-million project is expected to upgrade the Black Horse Pike in Gloucester Township, bringing more safety for residents and boosting a planned arts district in the Blackwood area.
“We are very, very excited about this project,” Mayor David Mayer said at a press conference.
Workers are to resurface 5.4 miles of the heavily traveled pike, also known as Route 168, over an estimated two-year period, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
They’re also to improve traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at nine signalized intersections within the project limits.
The project will take place in coordination with a $1 million “streetscaping” program in downtown Blackwood. The pike in that area will add decorative lighting, enhanced crosswalks and other improvements.
Township officials are positioning the downtown area as an arts and entertainment district. The commercial area already includes multiple murals and sculptures, including an eye-catching statue of Marilyn Monroe leaning toward passing vehicles.
Resurfacing work is expected to start in the late spring or early summer of 2026, Assemblyman Cody Miller, D-Gloucester, said at a press conference Oct. 28.
“When finished, this will help commuters to have a smooth ride and make this section of Gloucester Township safer for pedestrians,” he said.
The improvements are to run from milepost 0.0 on Washington Township’s border to just past Evesham Road in Runnemede. That stretch of highway saw a pedestrian death in May and two fatal accidents in 2022, according to New Jersey State Police.
“Construction is expected to take place overnight and will require lane closures,” a state DOT representative said. “When necessary, temporary detours will be utilized.”
The entire stretch is to receive upgraded guiderails.
The road project and streetscaping initiative “will not only enhance public safety and accessibility but also play a key role in driving economic development,” township officials said in a statement.
The state-funded project “isn’t just about repaving the road,” Transportation Commissioner Frances O’Connor told an audience in Harmony Hall, a converted bank building that debuted last month as a cornerstone for the arts district.
“It’s about revitalizing a corridor that connects people, business and opportunities. It’s about improving access, protecting lives and investments, and a stronger future for South Jersey.”
