SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Council seeks quick walker remedies

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor

Township Council members are trying to be creative in helping keep high school students walking along Stouts Lane safer.
Students from South Brunswick High School came before the council in November to ask if it could make the road safer to walk on because there are no sidewalks.
The township has been held up putting in the walkways due to litigation with Stop&Shop, who is trying to block the building of a new ShopRite at a shopping complex at the corner of Stouts Lane and Route 1.
The town also is waiting for a Department of Environmental Protection permit to build a bridge over a creek on the road, according to officials..
The students traverse the road while traveling from the school to the plaza.
In an effort to make the walk a bit safer, Department of Public Works crews cut back trees on the road to provide more room.
Councilman John O’Sullivan proposed placing signs on existing signposts that would alert motorists to the walking students.
“We have the ability to make the signs,” Mr. O’Sullivan said Tuesday night.
The signs would be added to the bottom of existing school crossing signs and would read “students walking.”
In addition, Councilman Charles Carley suggested using township resources to build a sidewalk up to the point of the creek to provide additional security for the students.
“ I would think that Public Works could do that,” Mr. Carley said.
Township Manager Bernard Hvozdovic said he would check into the possibility with Public Works.