Officials hope new
ordinance, fines
reduce traffic troubles
Gatzmer Ave. truckers
TARA PETERSEN The overpass on Gatzmer Avenue is a problem for truckers who disregard warnings that it’s only 12 feet high. Now, truckers who fail to pay attention face fines.
must turn off or pay up
Officials hope new
ordinance, fines
reduce traffic troubles
By tara petersen
Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — Any truck driver who disregards warnings about a 12-foot-high overpass on Gatzmer Avenue will now have to pay for that mistake.
The Borough Council adopted an ordinance June 25 requiring offenders of the height restriction along portions of Gatzmer Avenue to pay a fine of $500.
The railroad overpass has been a source of trouble in the borough for years. According to council President Joseph Jennings, tractor-trailers routinely get stuck under the 12-foot-high bridge or have to turn around, which can cause traffic jams.
Jennings said the trucks are often coming to the bridge off Cranbury Road. Many of them stop once they see the bridge, back up and turn around. He said that on several occasions trucks have hit and damaged the bridge.
Mayor Tony LaMantia said local police officers are too often required to assist the drivers, thus taking officers away from normal duties.
"It’s taking police off the streets," he said.
LaMantia said that he hopes the fine will help reduce the number of truck drivers who "either don’t pay attention or don’t know the [height] of their equipment."
"There may be signs posted eventually that say there is a fine," LaMantia said. "We are constantly working with the county to come up with ideas (for better warnings of the 12-foot capacity)."
LaMantia said that he recognizes the fines will not stop those drivers who never notice the signs in the first place.
"It may not alleviate the problem totally, but at least it will address the cost issue," he said.
Officials said many of the truckers in question are trying to get to Docks Corner Road in South Brunswick — but they do not realize that Docks Corner Road in Jamesburg does not meet up with the road of the same name in the neighboring township.
Docks Corner Road was a single roadway until it was split in 1951 for the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike.
The Jamesburg section runs from Route 522 to Route 535. The South Brunswick section is also off Route 522, less than 3 miles from its sister road, but it now ends at ABM Property Corp., which includes Home Depot, Cooper Tire, Barnes and Noble, and L’Oreal distribution centers.
Jamesburg officials asked South Brunswick to change the name of its road a few years ago, but the neighboring township chose to incorporate better sign postings instead.
Jamesburg has avoided changing the name of its section of Docks Corner Road because of the large number of residences there.

