DAVE BENJAMIN In an effort to prevent pedestrians from jaywalking across Route 9, Manalapan, the state Department of Transportation has erected a fence in the vicinity of the Gordons Corner Road bus stop.
MANALAPAN — A fence has been installed in the Route 9 median just south of Gordons Corner Road in order to prevent pedestrians from crossing the highway in an area where motorists may not be expecting to see them.
The fence extends from the vicinity of the traffic light nearest the southernmost exit of the Towne Pointe shopping center to the Route 9 south entrance to that same shopping center. The new fence, about 1,100 feet in length, encourages pedestrians to go down to the traffic light where there is a regulated crossing. The traffic light is in front of the Excelsior catering facility.
"We wanted the fence there because we have had so many serious accidents there," said Mayor Rebecca Aaronson. "It’s for the safety of our commuters."
The mayor said it was the aim of the township to prevent any more accidents. She said the town is required to maintain the fence and keep the area clean. The state Department of Transportation paid for and installed the fence.
A report presented to the Township Committee in April noted that there was an area of commuter safety concern. Addi-tionally, a videotape was made of the area which indicated that 50 to 60 pedestrians attempted to dodge traffic during a period of approximately one hour while crossing the median and not using the traffic light.
Several traffic reports prepared by Officer Scott MacBean of the Manalapan Police Department’s traffic division indicated there had been several fatalities and one serious injury in the area.
"The incident reports don’t even reflect the close calls, things like screeching tires and near misses," Aaronson said.
The mayor said it is understandable that people trying to catch a bus in the morning or get home in the evening might have crossed the highway without making use of the traffic light, but said, "Something was necessary to direct them to the crosswalk" at the traffic light.
However, the mayor said the most recent fatality at the location would not have been prevented by the fence because it happened at the crosswalk.
"They just crossed against the light," she said.
According to Aaronson, the fence was not erected to inconvenience people or to make them late.
"The fence will direct people to the safest place to cross," she said. "It might take some getting used to for someone who was accustomed to jaywalking across Route 9, but it’s for everyone’s benefit. I’m glad it’s finally up. If it can prevent an accident in the future, then the fence will have served its purpose."
— Dave Benjamin