EAST WINDSOR: Township awarded $525K grant

By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The township was awarded a $525,000 grant from the state for road improvements to realign Route 130, at the intersection of Conover Road and Hankins Road, Mayor Janice Mironov announced in a press release last week.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation Local Aid Infrastructure Fund Program will be awarding the township the grant money so that Route 130, Hankins Road and Conover Road meet at a single point controlled by a traffic signal and have an realignment that will allow for all left-turn movements, according to the release.
"Currently, due to the disconnected configuration represented by Hankins Road and Conover Road at Route 130, left turning movements from and onto Conover Road and Route 130 are challenging and potentially hazardous," the mayor said. "This realignment project would enable vehicles to make signal protected left turns from Route 130 South onto Conover Road and from Conover Road onto Route 130 South, as well as eliminate any existing line of sight issues for drivers entering or exiting these roadways."
The improvement project would also enable vehicles to simply travel straight across Route 130, according to the release.
The conclusions were based upon traffic studies conducted by East Windsor Township and proposals generated therefrom and discussions with state officials.
"These issues have intensified as East Windsor has experienced an increase in the volume of vehicles in the area of Route 130, Conover Road and Hankins Road due to the overall growth in residences and businesses in the immediately surrounding areas," said Mayor Mironov.
According to the release, The New Jersey Department of Transportation approved a preliminary concept plan for the project and the required permit application is currently under their review.
All engineering design costs are being paid for by the Township’s developer-funded transportation improvement program.
"We are very excited and grateful to Gov. Christie and the Department of Transportation for this grant award for this valuable roadway improvement project, as these state program funds are an important resource in enabling the Township to advance important projects without burdening local property taxpayers in East Windsor," she said. "This is an important roadway project which has substantial local support and we look forward to completion of the NJDOT review so that we can advance to construction."