Lavallette and the state are negotiating changes to Route 35 that could include bollards to better protect pedestrians along the busy highway, the borough's mayor said.

The conversation surrounding safety improvements in town has been amplified after Ursula Keating, 56, was killed and seven others were injured when a 93-year-old driver mistakenly crashed into restaurant Meg’s Grill outdoor dining area on Route 35 North over the weekend.

"They started a conversation with us a couple of months ago about modifying the highway here," Mayor Walter LaCicero said. "So we're still negotiating with them over what changes might be up going forward."

LaCicero said nothing has been finalized. The state runs Route 35 and approves what can be placed along it, so any improvements would have to be made with the state.

Bollards are a real possibility, the mayor said, and are already in the works elsewhere on the road.

"They've already agreed to install some bollards by the school to prevent something like this from happening there," LaCicero said. "So it's going to open the door to a bigger conversation about them now."

Route 35 North and Route 35 South are the main roads through the borough, lined with outdoor dining and busy sidewalks.

The mayor said the borough is not making knee-jerk decisions. He said many residents have asked whether outdoor dining will be eliminated, and that the borough does not intend to do that.

News 12 reached out to the state Department of Transportation for information on the discussions and potential safety improvements and has not yet received a response.