Plans for traffic signal at Marlboro site drag on
By Bob Fleming
SEAN GUTHRIDGE Traffic gets backed up fast during rush hour at the corner of Union Hill and Tennent roads, Marlboro.
MARLBORO — Municipal officials and residents are voicing their frustration about the lack of progress at having a traffic light installed at the intersection of Union Hill and Tennent roads, one of the busiest intersections in Marlboro.
According to the Marlboro Police Department’s traffic and safety unit, a traffic signalization study has been completed for that site and township officials are awaiting word from the Monmouth County Division of Engineering as to when they can expect to have a traffic light installed at the intersection.
Since Tennent Road is a county road, the county engineering department must review and approve all requests for traffic signals along that road, said Capt. Daryl Conover of the Marlboro Police Department.
"We support the need for traffic signalization at this busy intersection," Conover said. "It’s my understanding that it’s in the county’s hands right now."
Township Council President Steven Gustman said he is personally aware of the problem at the Union Hill and Tennent roads intersection and has supported the need for a traffic signal there in an official capacity since he joined the governing body more than two years ago.
"I know it’s the scene of a number of near misses and I’m well aware of how drivers are forced to sit there for what seems to be a countless amount of time trying to make a turn during rush hour traffic," Gustman said. "The council has requested the traffic and safety unit of our local police department and our engineer, Bill Schultz, to provide us with updates."
Gustman said he believes the bottleneck in getting a traffic light installed at the intersection may be with state officials, but he remains hopeful that it will be accomplished in the not-too-distant future.
Mayor Matthew V. Scannapieco said the request for traffic signalization at this intersection predates his tenure in office, but he has followed the process since the mid-1990s and would like to see the traffic light installed as soon as possible.
"Our professionals in the police department and our engineering staff have kept us updated on this request," Scannapieco said. "It was discussed as recently as within the last month with our traffic engineer to determine what is going on."
Scannapieco said he believes the county is aware of Marlboro’s keen interest in obtaining traffic signalization at this intersection and expressed frustration with the process taking as long as it has.
"First we were told it would occur in 1998, and then we were told it would happen in 1999, but it hasn’t," the mayor said. "I’m holding out hope that it will be this year."
Scannapieco said the township has completed traffic studies at the intersection which were made part of the request to the county for a traffic light at the location. He said he believes the process has dragged on due to scheduling difficulties and other issues at the county level.
Residents attending recent township council meetings have voiced concerns regarding increased traffic, road congestion and traffic safety in the vicinity.
On Monday, Schultz said the Monmouth County Division of Engineering has contracted with an outside firm to complete the design work for the traffic signal. The design work is expected to be completed and go out for construction bids by late summer, he said.
Marlboro Police Lt. Kenneth Gann of the traffic and safety unit was on vacation and could not be reached for comment regarding his unit’s involvement in securing county approval for the traffic signal at Union Hill and Tennent roads.
Municipal officials said there may be plans for a traffic light to be installed on Union Hill Road at the Cambridge Square shopping center near Route 9 but referred all questions on this matter to Gann and Schultz.
Attempts by the News Transcript to reach Joseph Ettore, chief engineer of design for the Monmouth County Division of Engineering, who is evaluating and processing the traffic signal request at Union Hill and Tennent roads, were unsuccessful.

