Editing New Jersey Route 36 (section)

=== Ocean Boulevard / Route&nbsp;16 ===
[[File:2021-09-08 15 53 56 View south along New Jersey State Route 36 (Ocean Avenue) from the pedestrian overpass at the entrance to Sandy Hook in Sea Bright, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|View westbound along Route&nbsp;36 at the entrance to Sandy Hook in Sea Bright]]
What is now Route&nbsp;36 from Atlantic Highlands to Long Branch was part of the Jersey Coast Way, which ran from the Staten Island Ferry to Cape May.<ref>{{cite map |author = ((Rand McNally and Co.)) |map = Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, South East Michigan, Southern Ontario, Western New York: District No. 4 |title = Rand McNally Official Auto Trails Map |edition = 3rd |year = 1924 |pages = 168–169 |via = David Rumsey Historical Map Collection |access-date = November 4, 2019 |map-url = https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~201570~3000600:Auto-Trails-Map--Pennsylvania,-New- }}</ref>

In January&nbsp;1916, State Senator [[Henry E. Ackerson Jr.]] introduced a bill to extend Ocean Boulevard from [[Bay Head, New Jersey|Bay Head]] to [[Manasquan, New Jersey|Manasquan]] with an extension planned to the [[Shrewsbury River]]. As part of this, he wanted to extend Ocean Boulevard from Atlantic Highlands to Keyport via Keansburg and Port Monmouth. Ackerson asked that the state take over maintenance of Ocean Boulevard and continue it west to Keyport, reaching the Keyport–Red Bank Turnpike, which the state had interest in turning into a state thoroughfare.<ref>{{cite news |title = Senator Ackerson to Push Ocean Boulevard |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-keyport-weekly-ocean-boulevard-janu/160200945/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = The Keyport Weekly |date = January 28, 1916 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The Senate Appropriation Committee held a hearing on February 7, where several senators and high ranking officials in the state offered their support for the new road. This included Benjamin Morris of Long Branch, Commissioner George Pittenger of [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]] and a representative of the Waterway League of New Jersey. Pittenger stated that the construction of Ocean Boulevard would help bring new motorists to resorts on the Shore in Monmouth County.<ref>{{cite news |title = Urge Funds for Ocean Boulevard |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/perth-amboy-evening-news-ocean-boulevard/160201237/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = Perth Amboy Evening News |date = February 8, 1916 |page = 9 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Ackerson announced on March 7 that the Senate passed his Ocean Boulevard bill. The bill included $5,000 for the surveying and mapping of the extension from Atlantic Highlands to Keyport, passing 15–0. $75,000 from the general fund and $75,000 from the state's motor vehicle funds. Construction of the extension would begin in 1916 and be finished by 1926.<ref>{{cite news |title = Boulevard Bill Passes Senate |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-ocean-boulevard-march/160201497/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = [[The Asbury Park Press|Asbury Park Evening Press]] |date = March 7, 1916 |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>

Surveying for the extension of Ocean Boulevard occurred in June 1916, with the new road along Bay Avenue through several Monmouth County municipalities between Atlantic Highlands and Keyport along Raritan Bay.<ref>{{cite news |title = Ocean Boulevard to Be Extended and Park Opened |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-nj-16/160201829/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = [[The Home News Tribune|The Daily Home News]] |date = June 27, 1916 |location = New Brunswick, New Jersey |page = 8 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>

Progress stalled until 1918, when Ackerson proposed a new bill in January, amending a $15&nbsp;million act (Good Roads Bill) to give money for a state highway system. Ackerson's new bill would designate the Ocean Boulevard extension between Keyport and Atlantic Highlands as Route&nbsp;16.<ref>{{cite news |title = Ackerson Puts in Boulevard Bill |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/matawan-journal-route-16-january-17-19/160202702/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = The Matawan Journal |date = January 17, 1918 |page = 8 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> By February, there was local concern about the Route&nbsp;16 amendment passing through the State Legislature.<ref>{{cite news |title = Farmers' Market Plans Approved by Commerce Board |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-route-16-february-19/160202861/ |access-date = December 2, 2024 |work = Long Branch Daily Record |date = February 19, 1918 |page = 2 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>

Ackerson tried again in January 1919, proposing a bill to amend the March 1917 "An Act to Establish a State Highway System and to Provide for the Improvement, Betterment, Reconstruction, Resurfacing, Maintenance, Repair and Regulation of the Use Thereof" to add Route&nbsp;16 to the state highway system. This new road would begin on [[New Jersey Route 4|Route&nbsp;4]] in the area of Keyport to Atlantic Highlands, down Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright to Norwood Avenue in [[Allenhurst, New Jersey|Allenhurst]].<ref>{{cite news |title = To Add New Route to State Road System |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-keyport-weekly-route-16-january-31/160246346/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = The Keyport Weekly |date = January 31, 1919 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders endorsed the paving of the proposed Route&nbsp;16 at a meeting on February 10, 1919. In their endorsement, the organization stated that Ocean Avenue and Lake Avenue in the city of Asbury Park would be offered to the State Highway Department for improvement for the new Route&nbsp;16 by 1921. Local concern voiced at the meeting expressed concern that the State Highway Commission would not accept Route&nbsp;16 or provide any connections to it. One commissioner stated that the same occurred with Route&nbsp;4 and that there was hope they would consider changing their minds on Route&nbsp;16.<ref>{{cite news |title = Freeholders Take Steps for Permanent Paving of Ocean Ave. Boulevard |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-route-16-part-1-februa/160246855/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = Long Branch Daily Record |date = February 11, 1919 |pages = 1&ndash;[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-route-16-part-2-februa/160246880/ 2] |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>

The League of Mayors endorsed the new Route&nbsp;16, but noted that people in Asbury Park wanted the route to go through their municipality and that of [[Ocean Grove, New Jersey|Ocean Grove]]. League Assemblyman Dallas Young added that Route&nbsp;16 would add {{convert|20|mi|km}} to the {{convert|56|mi|km}} the state wanted to add to the system in Monmouth County. T. Lloyd Lewis stated that he would address the request of those in Asbury Park with Ackerson.<ref>{{cite news |title = League of Mayors to Back Boulevard Bill and Lower R.R. Fares |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-nj-shr-16-february-14/160199972/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = Long Branch Daily Record |date = February 14, 1919 |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-nj-shr-16-part-2-febru/160199894/ 6] |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> However, on March 4, Ackerson withdrew his bill for Route&nbsp;16, stating that he was not confident he had the votes for the bill to pass.<ref>{{cite news |title = Senator Ackerson Lays Over Bill for Highway Extension; 'Pro' Amendment Gets Hearing |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-record-route-16-march-4-1919/160247578/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = Long Branch Daily Record |date = March 4, 1919 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Ackerson re-offered the bill once more on March 18, but the bill failed by a vote of 11–5. The opposition's spokesperson, Senator [[Clarence E. Case]], stated that Monmouth County was already given preference in their decision making of the current highway map.<ref>{{cite news |title = "Ocean Highway" Bill Again Fails |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-route-1/160247691/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = [[The Home News Tribune|The Daily Home News]] |date = March 18, 1919 |location = [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]] |page = 5 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>

Senator [[William A. Stevens]], Ackerson's replacement, brought back a bill to construct the Ocean Boulevard stretch between Atlantic Highlands and Keyport in January 1925.<ref>{{cite news |title = Senate Gets 51 Bills on Opening Day |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-ocean-b/160262965/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = [[The Home News Tribune|The Daily Home News]] |date = January 14, 1925 |pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-ocean-b/160262931/ 9] |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Unlike the bill from Ackerson in 1919, Stevens' vote passed the Senate unanimously to build the {{convert|5.5|mi|km|adj=on}} road. Stevens stated that the congestion in Keyport was one of the worst centers in the state and the new route would provide a detour to reduce congestion in Monmouth County.<ref>{{cite news |title = Favor Connecting Boulevard Link |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-ocean-blvd-february-2/160263167/ |access-date = December 3, 2024 |work = [[The Asbury Park Press|Asbury Park Evening Press]] |date = February 25, 1925 |page = 1 |via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>