Traffic signal coming to prominent location
Work at Perrineville, Schoolhouse roads coming in spring
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MONROE — The township has been given the green light to put up a traffic signal at the heavily-trafficked intersection of Perrineville and Schoolhouse roads.

The roadways will also be widened approaching the intersection, with new curbing put in.

The Township Council on Dec. 4 awarded the contract to Lucas Brothers after gaining approval from Middlesex County for extra funds needed for the project.

“It’s probably the most dangerous intersection in town,” Councilman Irwin Nalitt said.

Nalitt cited the large number of accidents there, resulting from the high volume of traffic coming from the municipal complex. Monroe Township High School and the Greenbriar at Whittingham community also contribute to the traffic there.

Close to one year ago, the project was put out to bid by the council, and all of the bids came in at almost double the $600,000 it had originally estimated for the work. The council last month received county approval for the $1,069,214 that will be necessary to complete it.

The cost went up because of the increase in asphalt prices that came as the result of rising oil costs, according to Council President Gerald Tamburro.

“The need has been dramatic over the last several years,” Tamburro said.

The volume of Monroe Township Library patrons has increased, making expansion of the library building necessary, Tamburro said, noting that is a major contributor to the number of vehicles traveling through the intersection.

Another part of the problem is the young drivers going to and from the high school. There are also many elderly drivers who travel the area, Tamburro noted.

Since Perrineville Road is county property, the project is a joint effort between the township and county authorities. The town is in charge of engineering and design, while the county covers the costs.

The project will also involve the installation of curbing and widening of the roads, officials said. No acquisition of property is necessary to complete the project, as it does not incorporate any changes at the corner belonging to Greenbriar.

The light should be up and running by the end of June, Tamburro said. Work cannot begin until after the coldest part of the winter, because asphalt companies don’t operate when temperatures are extremely low, according to Nalitt.

Two other locations in town are slated for traffic lights at their intersections, but there are no set dates for their installation. At Applegarth and Union Valley roads, developer Marvin Smeltzer was required in his subdivisional approval to put in a traffic light once he reached the point of building 100 homes.

Another will be installed at Applegarth and Federal roads, where Stonebridge at Greenbriar is located.

Councilman Henry Miller said he would like to see a signal installed on Applegarth Road near the gate of the Rossmoor Community, but that it would have to wait until after the current project is complete. Because of the library, police department, senior center and high school, the intersection is clearly in greater need, he said.