Traffic loops proposed to end Montgomery congestion

Series of new roads designed to take pressure off Route 206-518 intersection.

By: Paul Sisolak
   MONTGOMERY — The Planning Board this week made its first amendment this year to the traffic circulation element of the Master Plan designed to improve the flow of traffic through the Route 206-Route 518 intersection.
   The board and members of the Township Traffic Advisory Committee discussed changes to the circulation plan Monday, proposing a new series of loop roads in the vicinity of the troubled intersection.
   The longest proposed loop road would extend southbound from Route 518 at the Research Road intersection, pass through vacant property to the north of Princeton Airport, then turn east to meet at a new signaled intersection on Route 206 at the Princeton North Shopping Center driveway.
   Before reaching the traffic signal, a northbound extension from the same roadway would link entranceways for both Princeton North Shopping Center and the Montgomery Shopping Center, crossing Route 518 in the process.
   A third loop road would wrap around the Nassau Conover car dealership on Cherry Valley Road at the Princeton Township border, ending at Route 206.
   Township traffic engineering consultant John Rea said the reason for devising the loop roads is to alleviate the volume of four-way traffic buildup on each side of the Route 206-518 intersection by providing alternate routes off the two heavily traveled roads.
   During greatest use, he said, the intersection operates at level F, the lowest-ranked grade according to Department of Transportation standards. The delays at the intersection, he noted, are caused by drivers attempting to make left-hand turns.
   "One of the purposes is to eventually take the left-hand turns out of the intersection," Mr. Rea said.
   Once the loop roads are operating, he added, the intersection would be restriped and its traffic lights retimed.
   "The goal is to maintain the character of the intersection as much as possible," said township planning consultant Richard Coppola.
   The only alternative to loop roadways, he noted, is to "blow out" the intersection — rebuilding the entire crossing from scratch, compromising not only traffic flow but revenue for businesses in that location.
   Mr. Coppola said he could not comment on the timetable for constructing the roads, pointing out that many would be built as the properties they pass through are developed. He stressed outside funding would be sought to avoid an impact on the municipal budget.
   "Our intent is to have this done without taxpayers’ money as much as possible," he said.
   The Traffic Advisory Committee suggested extending Young Drive, a dead-end street behind Montgomery Shopping Center. The Young Drive extension would run south in Rocky Hill along the border of the Schafer property, an undeveloped recreation park located almost entirely in Rocky Hill, and exit on Wall Street at Research Park.
   The Young Drive proposal is tentative, Mr. Rea said, depending on the borough’s approval.
   "Montgomery may be willing to make some changes to make it more palatable to Rocky Hill," he said.
   Mr. Coppola said Monday’s changes supercede prior Master Plan amendments made in April and July of last year.
   Already proposed under the traffic circulation plan is a new road connecting Research Road and Route 206. A proposed southbound loop would stretch from Orchard Road through the Sharbell tract and across Bedens Brook. Acting as a bypass through the Don Drake property, acquired by Bloomberg LP, the road would then merge with the newly proposed Research Road extension at the Princeton North Shopping Center traffic signal.
   "I’m confident that with these roads in place we can make this work," said Mr. Rea. "You should see a significant improvement in traffic at 206 and 518."
   He noted all the loop roads will be two-way and should range from 25 to 35 mph to discourage speeding.