HAMILTON TWP.--The owners of the Atlantic City Expressway, held a public information session Thursday night on it's plans to create a new interchange at exit 17.

The South Jersey Transportation Authority is proposing to construct new ramp connections to and from Atlantic City, where the expressway intersects "State Route 50" in Hamilton Township.

"Currently what you have is what we call a "partial interchange." Sam Donelson, Chief Engineer for SJTA explains how the authority is hoping to relieve traffic congestion with improvements that officials say are much needed at exit 17.

"We have ramps to and from the West and from the Philadelphia directions, we're going to complete the interchange to and from the East." Donelson said.

Malini Swami-Nathan, Project Engineer said, "At this point from Route 50 you cannot get onto the Atlantic City Expressway to go to Atlantic City, and you cannot get off to go Route Route 50."

At the public information session held at the Hamilton Township Town Hall, SJTA representatives and design consultants informed local residents about the proposed interchange by showing them a wide range of plans for the project.

"What we have here is displays of about 5 or so alternatives to show people the work we've done to date, and to show them what our preferred alternative is.." said Donelson.

Mays Landing Resident Chris Hughes suggested that besides the interchange, more lights should be installed to increase visibility along the stretch of road. "There's been allot of accidents in front of my house at Route 50, I don't know if it has anything to do with the expressway."

But Hughes said, he wanted to hear and see what SJTA officials recommended.

"Well I'm happy to see it, there are many different alternatives here and they're receptive to get idea's, but it's nice to know they're still in the drawing stage, and they're at the beginning of this."

Officials hope to begin the project by October, and expect the work to continue for the next 12 months.

Donalson said, "We believe this is going to be a great job for Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor City, economic development purposes, especially as we're seeing Atlantic City grow and all the development that's planned and projected down there."