By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
CRANBURY — Cranbury residents will get a chance to learn more about the dam and bridge construction taking place this coming spring at an upcoming Township Committee meeting.
According to Committeeman David Cook, Middlesex County representatives will explain to residents the depth of the bridge and dam project during the Feb. 25 meeting.
”It’ll go through, much more specifically, the different components, what’s being changed, and how we’ll address, if not flood control, water management,” Mr. Cook said.
In additional to hearing more details about the projects, conceptual drawings will be provided to give residents an idea of what the bridge will look like when completed.
According to Mr. Cook, some of the details proposed include items like tree planters, benches, trash cans, lighting, and curbing.
”We’ll also be able to see the examples of the railing that may be used,” Mr. Cook said.
According to Committeeman Dan Mulligan, the Board of Education expressed its previous concerns about road closures and the blocking of pedestrian traffic.
”We’ve taken care of those concerns with the county,” Mr. Mulligan said. “They just ask that we communicate with them.”
Mr. Cook said he believes that this meeting will address any questions the board may have about traffic issues.
”We’ll be able to have a more than finalized time table in terms of traffic and pedestrian traffic,” Mr. Cook said. “At no point in time will the bridge be closed 100 percent.”
According to Mr. Cook, there are plans to alternate the lanes so traffic is always flowing.
”The idea is to accommodate morning rush hour and in the afternoon, the school in particular,” Mr. Cook said.
In addition to the dam and bridge project, the downtown beautification project will be done in tandem, according to Mr. Cook, who met with the beautification subcommittee on Jan. 24.
Cranbury received a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) for $220,000 for a quality of life project last year.
According to Committeeman Susan Goetz, the subcommittee is still putting together the recommendations that came out of the public meeting on Oct. 3 but the focus will be mainly on lighting and new sidewalks.
”We want to make sure that whatever lighting we’re doing is compatible with the lighting on the dam,” Ms. Goetz said. “The idea is to cascade the lights down through the town.”
According to Ms. Goetz, the beautification will take place on the West side of the street.
”It was great to see what was coming down the pipe,” Mr. Cook said. “But a plus is that it’s the gelling of both the bridge project, and bridge and dam infrastructure/aesthetic component along with the downtown beautification project.”
According to Mr. Cook, several ideas may be announced at the Feb. 25 meeting in conjunction with the dam project.
”I think what’s going to come out of that is a continuity that’s important,” Mr. Cook said. According to Ms. Goetz, the project area will be from around Schoolhouse Lane until Park Place West.
”We’re working out the details with exactly what it’s going to look like, but that’s the area that we believe we have to resources to handle and it focuses the energy on the primary commercial district,” Ms. Goetz said.
According to Ms. Goetz, the Township will also have to make adjustments to the crosswalks by the Molto Bene restaurant on Main Street.
According to Ms. Goetz, Park Place West and Park Place East are off center from each other, which makes the crosswalks cattycornered.
According to DOT regulations, all four corners of streets must be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). With the crosswalks cattycornered, the crosswalks are not considered to be ADA compliant.
”What we’re looking at his how best to do the reconfiguration of that corner and it’s going to be part of the (beautification) plan,” Ms. Goetz said.
According to Ms. Goetz, the plan is to put together a draft of the proposal, clear it with the Historical Preservation Society, and then meet with property owners on Main Street who would be directly impacted by the changes made.
According to Ms. Goetz, the subcommittee plans to have the work done over the summer as to not disturb any traffic to the school considering they will be severely disrupting the sidewalk to put in a new one.
The public meeting about the projects will be on Feb. 25 at Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
