By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
CHESTERFIELDSupervising engineer John Keller answered questions at the Jan. 24 Township Committee meeting about the proposed $2 billion New Jersey Turnpike expansion project that could affect at least five property owners in the township.
Approximately 40 residents attended, including those who may have to move if their properties are claimed by eminent domain for the projected widening.
One of the first questions asked was how soon the authority would be purchasing homes.
“I can assure you that we are looking to make this as equitable as possible,” said Mr. Keller, though a specific date could not be estimated.
“We really are trying not to flex our eminent domain muscles,” he said.
He said approximately 300 properties in the state could be affected statewide and the proposed expansion could displace a dozen homeowners throughout the state.
Five of those properties are located in Chesterfield Township.
The expansion plan, which could begin construction in late 2008, is expected to add an additional six lanes from a point approximately two miles south of Interchange 6, in Mansfield, to the existing 10-lane roadway south of Interchange 8A.
The Turnpike Authority cited in a brochure released in September 2007 that traffic is expected to increase by 68 percent between now and 2032.
It also stated that project is needed to improve the efficiency of moving goods and people, and that the Turnpike is a “key transportation corridor between major metropolitan areas in the Northeast.”
At that time, many residents were afraid they would lose their homes to eminent domain.
Richard Latza, a business owner who lives on Bordentown-Chesterfield Road, said he was concerned he would have to leave his residence and his business behind.
Mr. Latza said he would prefer to wait until the conclusion of the 2009 school year before he would move his family.
“We’re going to try and work with you,” Mr. Keller said. “We’re not going to go out and take your properties if we don’t need them.”
Mr. Keller said the Turnpike Authority has about $170 million in funds allocated thus far for the proposed project.
“I understand that it hurts some people in this room, but there’s more people coming to us and saying ‘I know I’m close (to the Turnpike), please, take my property.’”
He reiterated that the authority would not be moving into the construction phase of the project until the end of next year.
Another topic discussed was the future of two township bridges that cross over the Turnpike.
The first bridge, on Bordentown-Chesterfield Road, and the second bridge, on Ward Avenue, would have to be closed and lengthened to accommodate the widening.
“We are going to have to make the bridge higher and longer,” said Mr. Keller.
He added that both bridges would not be closed at the same time, and the county still has to work those details out.
Randy Wallace, who lives on Meadowbrook Drive, asked if there were going to be any Turnpike sound barriers placed in the township in addition to the one already there.
Mr. Keller said that the only sound barrier that will be present is the one that is already in place.
During construction, that barrier is likely to be taken down to accommodate the expansion, but will be fully repaired when construction is finished.
One resident asked if the Turnpike engineer could come back to Chesterfield after a lot of the construction-phase details have been ironed out.
“We just want answers,” said the resident. “When you get closer, please come back.”