Construction of the Atlantic City Expressway began on August 1st, 1963. In one year's time it opened to the traveling public at noon on July 31st, 1964, from the western terminus to the Garden State Parkway. Completion and operation of the entire highway from the western terminus into Atlantic City commenced on July 30th, 1965. Enabling legislation in 1991 created the South Jersey Transportation Authority, successor to the New Jersey Expressway Authority and Atlantic County Transportation Authority, and allowed the advancement of transportation projects in southern New Jersey, including the Atlantic City International Airport and the Atlantic City Brigantine Connector. Over the past half century, the Atlantic City Expressway has affected the economies of southern New Jersey, as quality communities, retail development, and industrial and commercial buildings sprang up in areas immediately surrounding it, while tourism growth was astounding and every shore community, especially Atlantic City, benefited.