Relief is on the way for commuters who travel Route 9 north in Middlesex County, but it will take years before drivers see improvements.

The state is targeting a stretch in Sayreville that has become a major bottleneck during the morning commute.

The problem area is on Route 9 northbound approaching the Garden State Parkway entrance.

Officials say the plan is to widen and restripe the roadway to improve traffic flow.

Drivers in the center lane will be able to either continue on Route 9 or merge onto the Parkway northbound.

The Department of Transportation also plans to install new overhead signage between Ernston Road and the Parkway to better guide drivers.

Commuters say the current setup causes backups as drivers all try to merge into the right lane. According to the NJ Department of Transportation, thousands of cars, trucks, and commuter bus lines use this route during peak travel times. As a result, the northbound lanes between Bordentown Avenue and the parkway routinely experience significant travel delays. "The queue to enter the GSP routinely extends a mile or more, causing numerous accidents and delays," NJDOT says on its website.

Transportation officials say the work will be done during off-peak hours and will only require brief lane closures.

However, the project is not expected to begin until 2029 and is slated for completion in 2030.