|
| |
|
 |
(Most
of the files on this page will open in Adobe. Download a free
copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 here
and follow the directions. You can view and print these
files.)
Traffic on the then 2-lane highway, CR520, increased dramatically
after the opening of exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway
in the 1950's. The county widened CR520 to its present 4-5
lane highway in the early-1980's. At that time, the 5 point
intersection of Newman Springs Road, Middletown-Lincroft Road,
Swimming River Road and Phalanx Road was changed to the present
4-point intersection. The north end of Phalanx Road was terminated
at a cul-de-sac and renamed 'Old Phalanx Road'. The current
end of Phalanx Road was redirected to meet CR520 just east
of Lincroft School.
Since the '80's, both the local population and the enrollment
at Brookdale Community College have increased dramatically,
resulting, once again, in traffic congestion along CR520.
In addition, pedestrians have found CR520 to be dangerous
to cross and dangerous to walk along since the sidewalks are
so close to the very busy road and, until 2002, there were
no pedestrian exclusive phases existing at any of the traffic
lights. (Currently, there is only one traffic light along
CR520 that has a pedestrian only phase: the light at Hurleys
Lane. The LVGA and the Lincroft Task Force successfully convinced
the county to change the timing of that light. However, the
county has been unwilling to create a pedestrian only phase
at other lights in Lincroft.) Speeding and running of traffic
lights have contributed to increases in the danger to both
vehicular traffic and pedestrians. The opening of Luftman
Towers in , a senior citizen housing complex, has increased
the need for safe pedestrian access to CR520.
Several letters, written during 2000 and 2001, illustrate
the need for improvements along CR520. Mayor Rosemarie Peters
of Middletown wrote a letter to Freeholder Larrison on July
17, 2000 regarding pedestrian safety in Lincroft. Read Mayor
Peter's letter here.
The LVGA wrote a letter to County Freeholder Larrison on
July 17, 2001, proposing center islands. Read LVGA's letter
to Freeholder Larrison (1.3MB) here.
The County Engineer, Mr. Giannechini, wrote a letter of August
8, 2001, in response
to the LVGA letter. Read Mr. Giannechini's letter can be viewed
by clicking on response.
In addition, Freeholder Amy Handlin, also a Lincroft resident,
promised the citizens of Lincroft that 4 center islands would
be built in the 4 approaches to the center of Lincroft in
a town meeting held at Lincroft School in 2001.
As a result of these increased concerns, the county commissioned
Orth-Rodgers to study the CR520 Corridor from the Holmdel-Middletown
border at Everett-Crawfords Corner Road to Shrewsbury Avenue
in Red Bank.
|
|
|
|
