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Since the Asbury traffic circle was repaved and restriped a year ago, accidents on the Ocean Township side of the circle are down 44 percent, the Coaster newspaper is reporting in its July 26 edition.

Route 35, Route 66 and Asbury Avenue merge at the circle, which is also located along the border of Ocean Township and Neptune Township.

The study on the Ocean Township side, conducted by the Ocean Township police department, found that the number of accidents had been reduced from 89 to 50 during the one-year period ending on July 8, the Coaster reported. Neptune police have not done a study on their side, according to the paper.

Ocean Township borders the north side of the circle, and Neptune the south. No part of Asbury Park borders the Asbury circle.

The Coaster quoted Ocean Township Patrolman Casey Larrison of the traffic bureau as stating that the new striping and upgraded signs at the circle made it a more safely-traveled roadway.

Coaster reporter Don Stine wrote the story.

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