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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: New traffic pattern at Crossroads North

By Ed Birch, Special Writer
   With the start of the new school year right around the corner, the Board of Education, in conjunction with the South Brunswick Police Department, have announced a new traffic plan for students as they enter the Crossroads North Middle School on George’s Road.
   The school administration has partnered with district staff, teachers, engineers, and the police department to design a plan that, according to Lt. Joe Charmello of the Police Department, “will facilitate smooth arrivals and departures while enhancing student safety.”
   According to traffic engineering plans released at Monday night’s meeting, only school buses, staff, and visitors will be permitted to enter the north side of the front parking lot for parking purposes each day.
   Parents dropping off or picking up children will be forced to enter and exit the school grounds via the southeast entrance in the front of the school on George’s Road.
   Parents will then be required to proceed on the west side of the school property in order to drop their students off or pick them up in the rear area of the school.
   After leaving the drop off area, vehicles will now be required to enter the Parent Turn Around area, proceed back on the western side of the school, and exit the campus via the newly constructed two-way entrance and exit on the George’s Road east side of the building, according to officials.
   School buses will unload and later load their students from the George’s Road front parking lot directly in front of the main entrance.
   ”In addition to this change, we will also be installing speed humps to insure student safety and eliminate and vehicle speeding,” Principal Mark Daniels said during the meeting. “Our primary goal is to insure the safety of every person entering the school area.
   According to Lt. Charmello, who assisted with the traffic pattern design along with Sgt. Kenneth Drost of the traffic division, “ the Police Department will be conducting Operation Safe Schools, which includes officers being assigned to the schools during arrival and dismissal times. There will be additional officers as well as school staff to assist with the transition into these new traffic patterns.”
   In addition, the board and police have also announced that a new traffic plan will be instituted at South Brunswick High School on Ridge Road at the same time.