COLTS NECK – The Township Committee has authorized an engineering study to be conducted by the state Department of Transportation (DOT) at the intersection of Route 34 and Phalanx and Flock roads.
Route 34 is a state highway.
Officials said the study will be conducted to review the timing sequence of the traffic light at the intersection.
Committeeman Russell Macnow recently raised the idea of conducting a study. He said there are persistent traffic concerns at the intersection.
Municipal officials have shown interest in installing a green advance light (i.e., left turn signal) from Phalanx Road to Route 34 south, which they believe would improve the flow of traffic at the intersection.
Officials said the problem with the intersection is for motorists heading west on Phalanx Road.
“If you are on Phalanx Road heading toward Route 34 there are two lanes, one is a dedicated right turn lane (onto Route 34 north). The other lane is for traffic going across Route 34 (to Flock Road) or turning left onto Route 34 south. That lane gets tremendously backed up,” Interim Township Administrator Tom Antus said.
Colts Neck is expected to pay 25 percent of the costs of the study because Phalanx Road and Flock Road are municipal streets.
Officials said vehicles heading to and from nearby Brookdale Community College contribute to the traffic at the intersection.
“With Brookdale (nearby), there tends to be a long backup of traffic on Phalanx Road heading west and often (drivers) who want to cross Route 34 get into the right turn only lane and pass on the right,” Macnow said. “I have witnessed a number of near misses. It is problematic because we just can’t get through the light.”
“We are always evaluating how to keep our town safe,” Mayor James Schatzle said. “This is another way to make our town and roads even safer.”
Antus said the DOT estimates the study and the replacement of the head of the traffic light with the green advance signal will cost between $30,000 and $40,000 without any complications. Colts Neck will pay 25 percent of that cost.
In other business, the committee approved the renewal of liquor licenses for the Due Process Golf Association; Juliette Inc. (Huddy’s Inn); Dante Deo LLC (Colts Neck Inn Steak and Chop House); My Fizz LLC (Green Meadows Restaurant and Bar); Widger Josephine Accera (Mary Ann’s Inn); Colts Neck Liquor Inc. (Colts Neck Wine and Liquor); and A&J Twin Realty (pocket license, no location) from Sept. 19, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
— Peter Elacqua