MILLSTONE — It is taking longer for the Monmouth County Engineering Department to move forward with the construction of a proposed roundabout at Scooter Corner than Millstone Township officials had anticipated.
“I was hoping construction would start in the summer or fall of 2015,” Mayor Bob Kinsey said. “My understanding is that funding has been approved and final design plans were being prepared (by the county). We look forward to working with them to bring this project to the finish line.”
In a letter dated March 31, 2014, Township Engineer Matt Shafai wrote that following a meeting on March 26, 2014, the township had reviewed the proposed preliminary roundabout plan and right of way acquisitions that are required for the project. Shafai noted there were no objections from the township.
Scooter Corner is the intersection where Millstone Road, Paint Island Springs Road and county Route 524 (Stagecoach Road) meet in a five-spoke alignment where stop signs help to control the flow of traffic.
A roundabout is a smaller version of a traffic circle and is designed to aid the flow of traffic.
Monmouth County Director of Public Information Laura Kirkpatrick said the roundabout would go to the design phase and engineers would determine what property would have to be acquired in order for construction to begin.
Township Committeewoman Nancy Grbelja said that about seven or eight years ago, municipal officials began to look for a solution to the situation at Scooter Corner.
“I don’t think it will be much property (that will have to be acquired), but they will have to widen the intersection,” she said. “They will have to get in touch with the homeowners who would be affected.”
There may be portions of several residential properties and one commercial property that will be under consideration for property acquisition, Grbelja said.
In general, Grbelja said changing a road can take between five and 15 years partly because the process involves the purchase of land, designing plans and determining if funding is obtainable.
“Some people say we should put in a traffic light, but it won’t work in Millstone,” Grbelja said. “Drivers won’t stop. I feel (the project) is moving slowly. We would have liked it done four years ago. It is a process that has to take place. We helped with some engineering fees, but the cost of the construction is with the county. They are bearing the cost.”
No official had an estimate as to what the roundabout would cost.
“Since this is a county road project, it took a lot of time and coordination between township and county officials to come to an agreement on what the fix would be and the costs associated with each type of potential project,” Kinsey said. “In the end, the township was successful in getting the county to understand our concerns and work very closely with the township to implement a solution that was best for Millstone.”
Scooter Corner is a landmark location in the community, but Millstone Township had thousands fewer residents and vehicles at the time the oddly shaped configuration developed.
Noreika Sales is located at the intersection. According to the company’s website, the business was established in 1949 and originally sold and serviced Cushman scooters. Given that commercial enterprise, the intersection acquired the name it is still known by today — Scooter Corner.