Residents worry about traffic safety

Noise and safety key concerns for residents along Matchaponix Road extension.

By: Melissa Hayes
   MONROE — A group of residents has been meeting with Township Engineer Ernie Feist to discuss noise and safety concerns with the Matchaponix Road extension, which runs along the residents’ development.
   Mr. Feist said the talks take place before each council meeting to discuss ways to reduce the noise from cars and to address concerns about the speed limit of the road, which is 35 mph.
   "We’re looking at doing some landscape berming to control some of these things," he said.
   Mr. Feist said he thinks residents are upset about the amount of traffic on the road because it was not made clear to them that it would be a through-road when they purchased their homes a few years ago.
   "It was designed that way and it’s designed in conformance with sound engineering principles," he said.
   He also said the road is actually designed to be taken at a much faster speed than the posted limit.
   "It’s really not an unsafe intersection. The posted speed limit is well below what the curve is designed for," he said, adding that the curve is engineered for speeds up to 50 mph.
   At Monday’s Township Council meeting, Noel Labennett, a Forest Lane resident, said he is concerned about safety, citing an accident that occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Dec. 19.
   "There was a terrible accident. A car spun in the road and destroyed two of my three garage doors," Mr. Labennett said. His house is located at the corner of Forest Lane and Matchaponix Road.
   "I live at a very, very dangerous juncture," he said, noting that his house is located near a curve in the road.
   Police said this was the first major accident at that intersection.
   Traffic Safety Sgt. Ken Gross said the driver was traveling west on Matchaponix Road and had just passed Texas Road when the accident occurred.
   "From her statement, she said she spun on black ice, hit the curb, continued around the curb on the roadway, jumped up on the curb, then went across the roadway. She then hit the curb on the eastbound side of the roadway, jumped the curb, then went through some shrubbery, hit the garage and hit two cars," Sgt. Gross said.
   Police are still investigating the accident, but said no ice was found on the road and they believe speed played a major factor in the accident. The driver was cited for speeding in a 35-mph zone.
   Mr. Feist said accidents like this are rare, but the township is looking into placing a barrier on that side of Mr. Labennett’s property.
   "It’s difficult to anticipate that type of situation, but I understand their concern and we’re going to try to address it the best we can," he said. "We’re going to take a look and perhaps provide some guide rail on that side of the road. It’s not normally necessary, but if it will make the homeowner feel safer, then we’ll do it."