In a major step toward a safer, more efficient future for drivers, the South Jersey Transportation Authority successfully installed the first overhead tolling gantry last night as part of its transition to an all-electronic tolling (AET) system. The new gantry, spanning the full width of the Atlantic City Expressway, marks the most visible advancement yet in the authority’s system-wide modernization effort.

This structure is the first of 10 gantries that will be installed across the corridor. Once operational, these overhead systems will use advanced technology to electronically collect tolls, eliminating the need for traditional toll booths and allowing for seamless, nonstop travel.

“This is a historic moment for the SJTA and for all those who rely on the Atlantic City Expressway,” said Stephen F. Dougherty, SJTA Executive Director. “The installation of our first overhead gantry signals more than construction progress, it symbolizes our commitment to providing a faster, safer, and more reliable experience for every driver.”

The conversion to all-electronic tolling is scheduled to go live in the fourth quarter of 2025. When complete, drivers will no longer need to stop or slow down to pay tolls the entire length of the 44-mile roadway. Instead, tolls will be collected via E-ZPass transponders or through license plate billing.

The gantries are designed to blend safety, accuracy, and functionality, incorporating high-precision sensors, cameras, and detection systems that will operate continuously and reliably in all weather conditions. Each structure represents a step toward reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and helping drivers get where they’re going more quickly and efficiently.

Motorists traveling the Expressway will continue to see crews working along the roadside as additional gantries are installed in the coming months. The SJTA reminds drivers to stay alert, obey posted work zone speed limits, and travel safely through construction areas.