537/539 fix may begin by early ’09

By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
   PLUMSTED — Local officials are taking steps toward improving an intersection they say is highly traveled and highly hazardous.
   Plumsted Township and the Office of the Ocean County Engineer have made improving the intersection at routes 539 and 537 a priority, Mayor Ron Dancer said.
   There is no designated left-turn lane at the intersection’s light coming from the Upper Freehold side of Route 539 and the road’s two lanes merge into one after the signal. The county’s preliminary plan includes a through-lane, a left-turn lane with corresponding arrow on all approaches to the intersection, and a shoulder on the right for right turns, the mayor said.
   He added that increased traffic in that part of town has highlighted the intersection’s imperfections.
   ”We’ve had significant traffic on Route 537 ever since (Six Flags) Great Adventure opened (in Jackson Township), along with shore traffic on Route 539,” he said. “On top of that, we now have the commercial development at the intersection and a 300-unit senior citizen residential development with entrances and exits on both routes.”
   Retail businesses, two banks, a Dunkin’ Donuts and a professional building at the intersection are all new within the last two years, Mayor Dancer said.
   Lt. George Titko of the Plumsted Police Department said the intersection is one of the most accident-prone in the township, in addition to routes 539 and 528 where construction will take place this fall. He added that improvements to the roads would “absolutely help” the flow of traffic and driver safety.
   Because the Route 537-539 intersection serves as a dividing line between both Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Upper Freehold and Plumsted townships, officials from all four bodies are invited to weigh in on the planning, Mayor Dancer said. He sent notice to the Upper Freehold Township Committee last week to gauge the township’s interest in the project.
   ”Foremost, I am hopeful that there will be consensus from Upper Freehold Township to recognize the need to improve that intersection,” he said. “It is also to give Upper Freehold the opportunity to contact Monmouth County and Ocean County’s engineering departments with any questions or clarifications.”
   The Upper Freehold Township Committee discussed the preliminary plan at its Aug. 28 meeting, and officials agreed the intersection needs work.
   ”My opinion is anything is better than the way it is now,” said Committeeman Stan Moslowski Jr. “You can’t turn right, there’s no left-turn lane, it’s always bottlenecked and jammed up.”
   Mayor Steve Alexander said the township would consult with the Monmouth County Engineering Department to look at the improvements, but also to explore opportunities Upper Freehold has in the project.
   ”Paramount is obviously public safety,” he said. “As far as design, Upper Freehold needs to have input with the county before we commit to anything.”
   Mr. Moslowski mentioned that Mayor Dancer was not looking for a township resolution regarding the project, but just a confirmation that officials in Upper Freehold recognized the need to improve the intersection. Officials said last week that a letter would be drafted.
   As the lead agency on the project, Ocean County would pay for the improvements, Mayor Dancer said, but Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino said there is no projected cost available at this time. The mayor added the project could be bid and constructed by the beginning of 2009.