More left-turn prohibitions coming for Route 31

Signs will be posted in the next few weeks

By John Tredrea
   Left turns in and out of commercial driveways on Route 31 between I-95 and the Pennington Circle are about to become illegal.
   Signs to that effect are expected to be posted in the next few weeks, Hopewell Township Mayor Vanessa Sandom said Tuesday.
   It was at Hopewell Township’s request that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) decided Feb. 21 to prohibit left turns from commercial driveways onto Route 31 and left turns from Route 31 into commercial driveways on the stretch highway between the circle and the interstate.
   That stretch of highway has been described by police, other officials and residents as the most dangerous stretch of road, by far, in the Hopewell Valley area. It is heavily traveled, with many 18-wheelers in the mix, is four lanes wide with no median or shoulders, has several blind hills and turns and is accessed by dozens of driveways.
   Already prohibited are left turns onto Route 31 from Diverty and Brandon roads and Orchard and Crest avenues. Left turns in and out of residential driveways are permitted and will continue to be permitted.