By: centraljersey.com
Potholes riddle sections of Montgomery Road, particularly a one-and-a-half-mile stretch between Davids Lane and Pschorn Lane where the road isn’t paved. Ditches and more potholes run along the side of the road, which also has several blind curves and dust, and can flood during storms and cause other dangers.
At least 137 area residents are fed up with what they say are unsafe conditions for drivers, bikers, runners and other pedestrians – prompting some of them to attend the Oct. 12 Township Committee meeting with a petition, photos and personal stories in an attempt to get the road fixed or made safer.
"It’s generally a pothole-ridden road for the majority of the days we go up and down it," Mark Yearick, of Davids Lane, said. "As a runner, I’ve been forced to jump in a ditch to avoid cars swerving to avoid potholes or oncoming traffic."
But improvements to the road are opposed by some of the area’s residents – and would have to be recommended by the township’s Capital Planning Committee, according to Mayor Frank DelCore.
"I would say the improvement of this road is a significant capital project, and is required to be reviewed and prioritized like all the other competing capital projects that will be before the Capital Planning Committee," Mayor DelCore said. "There is a capital planning process that needs to be adhered (to) and is required by law."
An assessment by Bill White, who works with the township’s Engineering Department, noted that fixing the road could run upward of $2.2 million, depending on the work needed to correct the problems. During his assessment, Mr. White noted the erosion present on the dirt portion of the road, vertical and horizontal curves, and a crest that creates a site issue; however, he could not comment on any flooding since he had not observed the road during a storm.
"We’re going to need DEP permits, address storm water regulations that any developer would have to do in town," Mr. White said. "A very preliminary cost estimate is $2.2 million."
Residents at the meeting noted the number of accidents on the road, for both drivers and pedestrians. Mr. Yearick offered a report from his wife, Fran Green, who was unable to attend the meeting but broke her wrist and a toe when jumping out of the way of a car.
According to Police Chief Paul Kaminsky, the road saw 14 accidents between Jan. 29, 2009, and Sept. 25, 2010, with four of the accidents occurring on the dirt road. Of the four accidents, one was a diabetic emergency, one was a vehicle trying to pass another vehicle, and two involved cars that slid into ditches on the side of the road. Chief Kaminsky said the department could go back further than the span researched for the Tuesday meeting, and could provide traffic counts as well.
He noted that the closure of Amwell Road for bridge repairs earlier this year increased traffic on the road as well.
Several road residents oppose any changes to the road, believing it would increase traffic, cause more drainage and run-off problems, and would disturb the setting as it runs through the Sourland Mountains. About 14 people who live on the road did not sign the petition, and at least one person who had signed it retracted her decision at the meeting.
"If it does get paved, I will move," Jonathan Black, of Montgomery Road, said. "I will look for another country road."
"It’s speed and people not driving for gravel road conditions," Ethel Terhune, of Montgomery Road, said. "If it’s paved, we’re deceiving ourselves into thinking it’s going to be safer. They are not going to slow down when it’s paved. They are going to go faster, so the safety is negligible."
Other concerns include noise, pollution and environment concerns from any blasting. However, several residents noted that blasting is heard from the Gibraltar Rock quarry on Route 601.
For those who signed the petition, it’s a count of flat tires, wheel alignments, jumping out of the way while on foot, and seeing flipped cars or cars stuck in ditches – and prompts the question of safety for drivers and pedestrians.
"It’s very clear that where you live has a very big impact of your perspective of whether or not we have a problem," Barbara Ambrose, of Pschorn Lane, said. "I have run out of my house, literally with my heart pounding, afraid that I was going to find somebody dying or dead. There have been two cars upside down in front of my house. … I have found a car tipped on its nose with a woman screaming inside, and I was pounding trying to get her out."
Ms. Ambrose noted that each of the incidents happened shortly after the road had been graded, and said police would find more accident reports in the years before 2009 and 2010.
With the ditches, curves and other concerns, sometimes the natural reaction is not the best way to handle the road.
"The natural reaction is to come back on the road," said Robert Dunn, of Davids Lane, whose daughter, Theresa, died following a crash on the paved parts of the road. "That’s the biggest mistake you can make when you’re dealing with the ditches that we have on the side of the road. … Once you do, the car takes off because you have overthrown the lift to get out of that ditch. And when you do, it’s all over. … You’re supposed to control it in the ditch, and just take the dented fender or the flat tire to daddy, but not bring back your sister dead.
Since the Township Committee cannot take action to fix the road this year, it decided to conduct further research into the safety concerns on the road, and look into interim solutions to improve the safety problems.
"Clearly, there are some things we should be looking at in the interim, and I think we’ll come back to you with some things that could be possible in the short term," he said.

