Proposed improvements include curb line modifications, lane restriping and traffic island reconstruction
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
The Hopewell Township Committee voted 4-0 Monday night to ask the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to make improvements to the Pennington Circle.
Officials claim the proposals would improve traffic flow significantly at relatively little cost and with relatively little disruption to homeowners and businesses at or near the circle.
The proposed improvements include curb line modifications, lane restriping and traffic island reconstruction.
More than 200 accidents have occurred on the heavily traveled Pennington Circle or its approaches during the past three years, the DOT says. The DOT has jurisdiction over Route 31, the primary road going through the circle. The circle is intersected by Pennington Road, Blackwell Road and Route 546.
Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski said the state has been studying the Pennington Circle for 30 years. He said the consensus of municipal, county and state officials is that the new curb lines, lane stripings, island modifications and other changes endorsed by the township Monday would cost less than $1 million and could be completed this year.
Mr. Pogorzelski noted that the DOT says the proposed improvements would maintain traffic Levels of Service at the Pennington Circle at Level C through the year 2027. Traffic engineers rate intersections and circles at Levels of Service from A through F, with F being the worst level.
”A ‘C’ level of service in New Jersey is actually quite good,” Mr. Pogorzelski said.

