A decal on a truck on Shrewsbury Avenue reads, “Gettin ‘er done” as the planning for a remake of the roadway stretches past eight years. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
In 2018, the Borough of Red Bank received a $1 million federal grant to rebuild the streetscape along Shrewsbury Avenue to make the hair-raising stretch of road safer for pedestrians. More than four years later, in 2023, the plan was unveiled at a community meeting. And officials said construction would begin in early 2025.
So last Thursday, West Sunset Avenue resident Jimmy Dark sat at the dais during the meeting of the Mayor and Borough Council and asked a question that redbankgreen has heard asked repeatedly over the last year: Why hasn’t the project been done? Or even started?
“I’m tired of asking the same thing for six years,” Dark said. “Why wait til somebody gets killed?”
Photos taken at the November 2023 community meeting on the Shrewsbury Avenue Streetscape Improvement Program.
In both his response to Dark’s questions at the meeting and a subsequent email in response to questions from redbankgreen, Borough Manager Jim Gant assured us the project is, indeed, moving forward.
As with many things involving multiple layers of government, he said, it goes slowly.
“Although I wish it moved faster, lengthy timelines are not uncommon with TAP grants,” Gant wrote in the email, referring to the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
Gant cited two examples for comparison: Manasquan received a streetscape award through the 2016 TAP grant cycle, with construction started in 2025 but not completed yet. And Ortley Beach, which received funding through the 2016 cycle and awarded its construction contract in November 2025.
“Red Bank is certainly not alone in dealing with a lengthy process,” he said.
The mile-long project covers nearly the full stretch of the Monmouth County road within Red Bank, from just south of the North Jersey Coast Line Crossing at West Street to Newman Springs Road.
It calls for new sidewalk bump-outs (or “bulb-outs”) at most intersections to make crosswalks shorter for pedestrians while slowing traffic that often exceeds the 30-mph limit.
Plans also call for three pedestrian-activated flashing beacons; curb ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act; new trees, lighting, signage, trash containers and benches; and rain gardens at two locations. Some parking spaces would be eliminated to improve sight lines for drivers at intersections.
The total cost estimate for the project is $3.75 million, Gant said.
Editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
