Wait, What Did You Say is Happening to My Shortcut to the Premium Outlets?

If you are a local, you pride yourself on knowing the short cuts and back ways to get to your favorite destinations around Monmouth County, especially when tourists are clogging the main entrance to your favorite outlet mall.

Because you are blessed with this valuable local knowledge, you know that Essex Road via Asbury Avenue in Tinton Falls is the non-highway route to the, located on Route 66 just off the Garden State Parkway, and all its glorious shopping gluttony.  What you may not know, if you don't live and work along this stretch, is driving here can be dicey for area business owners, employees and the many senior drivers who live in the four large residential complexes here.

That is why Tinton Falls's Mayor Michael Skudera and the Council President Gary Baldwin have worked with the county on a project to realign the roads, add traffic signals and pedestrian access and reduce flooding between Wycoff Road and Green Grove Road. The plan has been ongoing for more than seven years and the will begin the spring of 2012.

When that approaches you can count on Patch for all the detour information. In the meantime, county officials, who have teamed up on the project with the borough, say to be aware of changing traffic patterns.

This photo gallery will give you an idea of ongoing changes to the area.