Summer traffic would be less congested under a Garden State Parkway project getting priority attention from U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew.
Drivers traveling through Cape May County may eventually see long-discussed improvements to Exit 20 in Seaville, Upper Township, with a conversion to a full interchange.
The exit currently provides only partial access for motorists. It allows drivers to exit the Parkway when traveling northbound, and enter when heading southbound. Motorists who need to get off going southbound, and get on going northbound must use other exits and local roadways, a situation that, residents say, can be confusing and inconvenient.
Van Drew has long advocated for converting the interchange into a full exit with ramps serving northbound and southbound Parkway traffic.
The idea has circulated for decades among transportation officials and local leaders, not only to handle tourist traffic, but also for safe evacuation during storm emergencies. Momentum has been building for Exit 20 as infrastructure needs across South Jersey gain increasing attention.
“This has been a priority for me since my time in the state Legislature, and I have been working with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to finally get this moving,” said Van Drew in a recent statement. “The Turnpike Authority has now completed the preliminary design for improvements. The next step is for the project to move through the Authority’s budget prioritization process to be considered for funding.”
The existing interchange connects the Parkway with New Jersey Route 50. Because of its limited design, southbound drivers who wish to reach the Seaville area must currently exit at Exit 25 in Marmora — five miles to the north — and travel south along U.S. Route 9.
“Right now, Exit 20 is designed so you can only enter the Parkway heading south and only exit when traveling north. That simply does not make sense for the people who live and work here,” Van Drew said.
Transportation planners say the project would complete the interchange by adding new ramps and modifying existing structures so drivers can enter and exit the Parkway in either direction.
Planning documents indicate the project would convert the existing northbound left-hand exit ramp to a safer right-hand exit and construct additional structures needed to support the full interchange.
The proposal is estimated to cost $20 million and would require coordination with several regulatory agencies, including environmental review by state and federal authorities. Infrastructure upgrades must also be incorporated into long-term capital improvement plans before work can begin.
Currently, many drivers rely on Exit 25 (Roosevelt Boulevard, CR 623) to access shore destinations like Ocean City. For decades officials have warned that the additional traffic created by the incomplete Exit 20 interchange contributes to major congestion in the high season. Improving Exit 20 would help distribute that traffic more evenly and reduce the need for drivers to reroute through local roads, which are not designed for influxes of tourist traffic.
Projects of this scale typically require approval and coordination with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the Garden State Parkway.
Van Drew has said he will continue advocating for the project as part of broader efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in South Jersey. The question of funding, however, particularly by federal agencies, remains open.
If funding and approvals move forward, the redesign of Exit 20 could transform the limited interchange into a full access point, potentially making travel along the Garden State Parkway smoother for residents and visitors alike.
“I will keep pushing to make sure this project moves forward so this interchange finally works the way it should for South Jersey,” Van Drew said.
