PLUMSTED — Sections of Route 539 in Plumsted and Manchester townships will be rebuilt and upgraded in the coming months.

Work will begin later this year at the intersection of county routes 537 and 539 in Plumsted, where left-turn lanes will be added in all four directions, said Freeholder John P. Kelly, director of Law and Public Safety for the county.

“We have recently installed an upgraded traffic signal at the intersection and the addition of these dedicated turn lanes will improve safety for motorists and pedestrians,” Kelly said.

The project also includes replacing a bridge on Route 537 near the Deep Run adult community.

The new wider bridge will have full shoulders, leaving ample room for motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, Kelly said.

The work also includes a new left-turn lane to Route 537 at the entrance to the Deep Run development.

Freeholder Director James F. Lacey said the project should begin this fall and be completed by the fall of 2011.

The $2.26 million contract, awarded to Lucas Brothers of Morganville, was about $640,000 less than the county’s original estimates.

Competitive bids on a second Route 539 construction contract also came in well below budget, according to a press release.

The work includes the reconstruction and resurfacing of 7.5 miles of Route 539 from Route 528 in Plumsted through Jackson to Horicon Avenue in Manchester Township.

“Route 539 is a vital north-south link in Ocean County,” said Kelly, who is also liaison to the Ocean County Engineering Department. “We plan to begin work right after the summer ends and it should be finished by the end of the year.”

The reconstruction will include the deep milling of the road followed by the laying of 4.5 inches of new asphalt.

The $3.12 million contract, which is nearly $900,000 under budget, also includes some guardrail safety improvements, Lacey said.

Earle Asphalt Co. of Farmingdale was the low bidder.