I was looking up something about New Jersey's highways, and I was fascinated to learn about the proposed Driscoll Expressway.

Did you know that a highway project in the 1970s called for a road to connect the Garden State Parkway to the New Jersey Turnpike was planned to start in Toms River?

In fact, the original proposal from the New Jersey Highway Authority started in the mid-60's. It was originally a 45-mile road known as the Garden State Thruway.  That project never really got off the ground because of financial difficulties for the highway's construction.

In 1971 a plan was released by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for a 36-mile highway to connect Toms River to the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick. The cost for the project, which was estimated to be $360 million, was going to be financed by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority bonds, according to reports.

The road would have began right around exit 80 in Toms River, and it would include a toll plaza near Route 70 in Lakehurst. Reports estimated that the road would carry 40,000 vehicles per day, but it required the displacement of 84 homes and 6 businesses. In fact, some of those homes were demolished as preparations for the highway were taking place.

Opposition continued to grow against the case for highway, and despite the fact that the project was approved by the New Jersey State Legislature in 1972. Governor Brendan Byrne worked to kill the proposal during his administration.

The Turnpike Authority dropped its plans for the highway in March 1975 (despite a few attempt at revitalization later on).

So I'm curious: several decades after the highway proposals were dropped, would this highway have been useful? It's a pain to get from Toms River to the area that the highway would have served. However, imagine the traffic flow issues that this road would have brought.

With the state's transportation trust fund in dire need of some assistance, I don't foresee any new highways being proposed any time soon. So we're totally talking about hypothetical situations here.

They say hindsight is 50/50, so I'm curious: what do you think? Would you be happier if this road existed right now? Let us know what you think. Scroll down a bit to share your comments! 

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