Exit 8A improvements begin

New ramp to lighten truck congestion.

By: Leon Tovey
   MONROE — The light turns green and a Chevy Suburban, heading west on Forsgate Drive, approaches the intersection at Cranbury-South River Road — but as the SUV slows, a huge Kenworth tractor-trailer that just left the N.J. Turnpike cuts in front of it.
   The driver of the Suburban slams on the brakes, lays on the horn and watches impotently as the warehouse-bound truck rolls by, inches away from the SUV’s bumper.
   Cutting down on near misses like this one (which took place at around noon Dec. 20) is one goal of the construction of a new ramp connecting the N.J. Turnpike Exit 8A to Cranbury-South River Road.
   The new ramp will enable trucks heading to warehouses on Cranbury-South River Road in the township and neighboring South Brunswick from the N.J. Turnpike to bypass Forsgate Drive completely.
   According to Joe Orlando, spokesman for the N.J. Turnpike Authority, the construction is needed because of the high volume of vehicles using the exit, and the ensuing problems with traffic flow in the area. He said a contract for the project was awarded in May and the project is expected to be completed in June 2005
   The new ramp will intersect with Cranbury-South River Road across from Stults Road, creating a new four-way intersection that will be controlled with a traffic signal, said Monroe Township Engineer Ernie Feist.
   Mr. Feist said the new ramp will serve as an exit only — trucks headed toward the Turnpike will still have to travel on Forsgate Drive.
   Cranbury-South River Road will also be widened with the addition of more lanes where it intersects with Route 32. This will ease drivers’ abilities to turn from one road to another and help stop the congestion that forms from drivers exiting the Turnpike.
   "I imagine that will probably change if the Route 92 project ever gets off the ground," Mr. Feist said. "But trucks getting onto the Turnpike haven’t been a problem.
   Route 92 is a proposed 6.7-mile, limited access toll road that will connect the Turnpike at Exit 8A with Route 1 at Ridge Road in South Brunswick.
   "Our concern has been the safety of Monroe residents heading west on Forsgate Drive — that they would no longer have to merge with truck traffic off the Turnpike," Mr. Feist said.
   Mr. Orlando said the new ramp is estimated to cost $5.8 million. Councilman Henry Miller said he expects the cost of the project to be picked up by the Turnpike Authority, not by the county or the township.
— Staff writer Elaine Worden contributed to this report.