J’burg, Monroe
may discuss
road closure
Possum Hollow Road
plan stirs debate between borough and town
JAMESBURG — The N.J. Department of Transportation (DOT) has suggested that representatives from Jamesburg and Monroe meet to discuss the closure of Possum Hollow Road.
The suggestion is in response to a letter of protest sent by Jamesburg Borough Attorney Fred Raffeto regarding Monroe’s intention to permanently close the road.
Possum Hollow Road runs from Forsgate Drive in Monroe to Dock’s Corner Road in Jamesburg. The new Costco development is under construction on Possum Hollow Road.
"We feel that there are adequate safety concerns with the closure of the road," said Raffeto. He was unsure whether the road would be reopened, but hopes that if it is not, the town will receive some compensation.
According to Monroe Township Engineer Ernest Feist, the road has only been closed for a year, but it has always been the township’s intention to close the road permanently.
"The closure of this road will eliminate the unsafe driving conditions in the underpass where the rail line crosses Possum Hollow Road, as well as prevent traffic from the Costco development from cutting through Jamesburg on Dock’s Corner Road," said Feist.
The Jamesburg council passed a resolution in 1999 not to close the road, an action that has been superseded by the DOT’s approval of the action.
Jamesburg Police Chief David Lester also expressed concerns about the closure of the road.
"If Possum Hollow Road were open, a percentage of traffic would use it. Because it is closed, the traffic is diverted to other streets," he said.
In particular, the chief singled out Half Acre Road and Forsgate Drive as streets that have seen heavier use. The increased traffic volume also increases the number of accidents on those roads, he said.
Emergency vehicles from Jamesburg sometimes answer calls in Monroe, said the chief. The fastest route for them to take is Possum Hollow Road. Since the closure, their response times have increased.
Jamesburg Councilman Adam Bushman raised another concern. The Conrail bridge on Route 522 has been blocked by trucks that exceed its 12-foot clearance with increasing regularity.
"When the bridge on 522 is blocked, emergency vehicles must use an alternate route to reach that section of town. They would [usually] use Possum Hollow Road, but since it is closed, their response time is increased," he said.
He said that there has been some discussion of leaving Possum Hollow Road open to emergency vehicles only, but under the current plans it will be converted into a cul-de-sac.
On May 17, 2000, W. Dennis Keck of the DOT wrote a letter to the president of the Forsgate Community Association approving the road’s closure. The Forsgate Community is situated near Possum Hollow Road.
The letter said that Possum Hollow Road is a municipal roadway and the township could close it as long as they feel the closure will not create a constraint on traffic flow or emergency services within the township.
Keck’s letter argues that a temporary closure of the railroad underpass — due to the sewer construction on Possum Hollow Road — should have been a good indication of the effect the permanent closure will have on the surrounding area.
Monroe has the department’s approval to pursue permanent closure of the road’s railroad underpass.