Targeted area is between I-95 and Pennington Circle
By John Tredrea
Hopewell Township will ask the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement, as soon as possible, a series of changes on the mile-long section of Route 31 between I-95 and the Pennington Circle.
Township officials and residents have been saying for decades that this is most dangerous stretch of road, by far, in Hopewell Valley. The stretch has several blind hills and turns, very narrow shoulders, no median, and scores of access points in the form of residential and commercial driveways. Many of the accidents on the road over the years have involved left-hand turns.
Among changes that the township will request of the DOT under a resolution approved by a unanimous vote of the Township Committee Monday night is prohibition of all left-turn movements along Route 31 between I-95 and the Pennington Circle. Other recommended changes covered by the resolution on this section of Route 31 include:
Prohibition of all left turns from Orchard and Crest avenues onto Route 31 southbound and all left turns from any commercial driveway onto state Route 31.
Construction of concrete channelizing islands at intersections, including Crest and Orchard, that would aid in the left-turn prohibitions. Also, construction of necessary improvements for right turns at major intersections.
Improvement of the U-turn capabilities at Bull Run Road and installation of signs to clearly indicate U-turns are permitted for southbound traffic on Route 31. Improvement of the No Turn on Red signs at Bull Run and Denow roads on Route 31 south.
To help increase the effectiveness of the changes recommended above, the resolution recommends use of advance warning technologies, such as high-visibility signs.
Also requested of the DOT by the township is a speed survey on this section of Route 31, to see if a reduction of the 45-mph speed limit is warranted. The DOT has turned down several township requests to lower the limit.
The measure also requests that Crest and Orchard avenues be connected by extending Plymouth Street, which currently is a dead end. This would eliminate the need for a school bus pick-up and drop-off on northbound Route 31, which has a very narrow shoulder.
The resolution also requests that Plymouth Street be extended to Denow Road as soon as possible, allowing for one-way access into the neighborhood that includes Orchard, Crest and Plymouth, as well as Beech Street.
The intent of connecting Plymouth to Denow is to allow residents to use Denow Road to enter their neighborhood. Township engineer Paul Pogorzelski believes this change would eliminate most of the need for southbound cars to make a U-turn at Bull Run Road in order to access Crest or Orchard, which run off the northbound side of Route 31.
The resolution also requests that the state construct, within the next six years, termination of access to Route 31 at Crest and Orchard avenues by erecting cul-de-sacs, through which only emergency vehicles would have access, at the western end of those two streets and creating two-way traffic on Plymouth Street.
In township meetings during the past year, residents of Plymouth Street have opposed opening their street to through traffic. Residents of Crest and Orchard have backed opening Plymouth in this fashion, saying this change is needed for overall public safety. Opening Plymouth to through traffic has been publicly backed by Mr. Pogorzelski and township police Chief George Meyer.

