To the editor:
I’ve been a resident of South Brunswick for nearly nine years. I am here to express my opposition to the construction of route 92. I have lived all of my life in neighboring towns, born and raised in East Brunswick, 16 years in North Brunswick, and now, with my family I reside in Dayton.
I have seen this area grow in leaps and bounds, witnessed the expansion of highways, the onslaught of single family and condominium projects and sadly, the encroachment of ever-dwindling areas of natural reserves.
But I have also seen things that encourage me to believe it’s not too late to reaffirm our responsibility for the land and skies. As I enjoy the great outdoors, I have been graced with the sights of several endangered species struggling to make a comeback right here in area of the proposed highway. The red shoulder hawk, the piping plover. Just to name two. I have also seen wood ducks nesting as nature had intended, in a hollow tree.
And most recently a bird I thought I would never see in this area. On Tuesday, April 27, at approximately 5:45 p.m., my son and I were walking our dog at Sondek Park, which lies very near the intersection of New and Friendship roads and in very close proximity of the suggested path of route 92.
As we walked along the treeline at the park’s southern border, I took note of a rather large bird flying toward us. As the bird approached I was taken aback at what I was seeing. And what I was seeing was a bald eagle. With a white head, white tail and leggings, and a wing span 5 to 6 feet across, this was an adult to be sure. The eagle flew about 15 feet above tree top level, and passed within 60 feet of my now stationary position. To further add to this remarkable sight, in its talons it clutched a rabbit. I am doubtless as to the identity of this magnificent creature, as I have had several other experiences with eagles in flight, namely at Merrill Creek Reservoir and Preserve in Sussex County. I have also had the good fortune to photograph eagles in the wild during a recent trip to Florida.
As this bird continued its flight due southwest, I marveled at how lucky we are as a community to have such a creature, an icon of this great nation, a symbol recognized as America throughout the world, right here in South Brunswick. My euphoria, however, was short lived as I remembered Route 92, and the noise, the pollution and the everlasting destruction of environmentally sensitive habitat it would bring. Eagles are non-migratory, territorial and in need of solitude. Any chance of expanding their numbers would surely be lost.
The call for serving the needs of the many has been bandied about, how it’s imperative this roadway be built for economic growth and the convenience of the motoring public. As for convenience, I say there lies a viable alternative route just north of this not really needed roadway, a road that currently supports the east-west flow of traffic. And, which at considerably less cost, both in dollars and environmental impact, could be extended through a section of town that is home to many warehouses, a short distance from Exit 8A via Routes 130 and 32 or Cranbury Road. Or if the Turnpike Authority is so set on building something, perhaps a new interchange where Route 522 passes over the Turnpike should be their agenda.
As for serving the needs of the many, consider this. Consider the generations of Americans of today and tomorrow. We are in a most admirable position. We have at our fingertips, an opportunity to provide a truly unique, a truly American experience, to all citizens, of all ages, of all walks of life. By declining the permits for Route 92, we are electing to support stewardship of the land, the quality of life of this town’s residents and the wildlife that depend on us to do the right thing. I urge this assault by asphalt be put to rest once and for all.
Mark S. Halmo
Dayton
