View the entire newsletter for more articles: 2025 – NJAC County Biz – January
by Tejal Patel, PE, CME, LEED AP, Associate, Client Manager, T&M Associates
Each day, thousands of drivers move along a 2.4-mile stretch of Kings Highway (CR 551 S) in Camden County. The roadway sits within the boroughs of Mt. Ephraim, Haddon Heights, and Audubon and has long been a vital transportation route.
This area was the site of an important Revolutionary War battle that took place across what is now six towns in Camden County. Later, Haddon Lake Park was developed during the New Deal era by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration. Today, Kings Highway is an essential traffic corridor that connects communities and supports regional development in South Jersey.
Since its inception, Kings Highway has been a vital link for car commuters as well as NJ Transit, with more than 22 bus stops. It is also traversed by pedestrians and bicyclists. The Highway has undergone some minor improvements during the past century, with the last improvements made in 1964. It has also undergone numerous underground utility installations and emergency repairs, leading to patchwork surface. The roadway lacks ADA compliant curb ramps and sidewalk, all of which pose challenges for travelers whether on foot, on two wheels, or in a bus or vehicle.
Fortunately, a significant improvement project spearheaded by Camden County is now in progress. This landmark upgrade, the first of its kind in decades, will be a transformative achievement that meets both regulatory and community needs and ushers Kings Highway into a new era. The project is a collaborative effort between the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the governing bodies of the municipalities traversed by the roadway. Other stakeholders include two elementary schools, two shade tree commissions, three utility companies, and the police departments of all three boroughs — united with the goal of enhancing safety and commuter satisfaction traversing the roadway.
Components of the Kings Highway project include pavement restoration and rehabilitation to restore and enhance the roadway surface and make it smoother for all travelers. Safety improvements will include high-visibility crosswalks at all intersections, flashing beacons at critical intersections with high foot traffic, and traffic-calming features such as curb extensions. The improvements will also include infrastructure upgrades, with rehabilitation of sanitary and storm sewers.
The project, which began in August and is funded by Camden County Capital Improvement Funds and ARPA funds, will deliver long-term benefits to the involved communities by enhancing safety and accessibility while supporting ongoing regional growth in Camden County and beyond.
Tejal Patel, PE, CME, LEED AP is an Associate, Client Manager at T&M Associates, a leading national consulting, engineering, environmental, and technical services company headquartered in Middletown.