Fall Semester Update

 

Throughout the fall semester, significant progress was made in data collection, site analysis, and the development of Alternative design solutions for Route 52’s Redesign. Three alternative designs were proposed to enhance multi-modal accessibility and alleviate congestion in the area.

The Route 52 Corridor, located between Somers Point and Ocean City in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, NJ, experiences severe traffic congestion and safety deficiencies during peak summer months.

Spliced Aerial View Showing Route 52 Corridor
Route 52 Corridor Overview

The project aims to improve vehicular flow while enhancing safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists by incorporating multiple civil and transportation engineering disciplines, including roadway geometry improvement, intersection design, and multimodal safety analysis.

Rotating Aerial View Of Corridor

Major realistic constraints included maintaining traffic flow throughout construction, protecting nearby historical structures dating back to the 1600s, adhering to ADA and NJDOT roadway design standards, and remaining within budget limitations. Design constraints included fixed bridge geometry, limited right-of-way, and existing utilities. Traffic data from NJDOT showed average daily volumes of 38,955 vehicles during the peak season and 19,693 during the off-season, highlighting the corridor’s seasonal variability. Three design alternatives were developed and modeled in simulation software. Alternative 1 was a roundabout- focused design aimed at reducing delay and improving flow. Annotated Aerial Shot showing alternative 1 with callouts labeling changes and street names

Alternative 2 consisted of a signalized intersection redesign with protected pedestrian crossings and bike lanes. Annotated Aerial Shot showing alternative 2 with callouts labeling changes and street names

Alternative 3 was a mixed concept combining roundabouts and slip lanes for enhanced connectivity. Annotated Aerial Shot showing alternative 3 with callouts labeling changes and street names

Alternative 2 was selected as the optimal solution because it best addresses safety, efficiency, and constructability criteria. It provides protected bike lanes, improved pedestrian crossings, and revised traffic signal phasing to optimize operations. The total engineering cost for the fall semester was $18,500, and the estimated engineering cost for the spring semester is $11,000.

 

 

 

Engineering Services Presentation