By Frank Mustac, Contributor
A citizens group aimed at studying traffic patterns along River Drive in the historic Titusville village formally submitted its findings before the Hopewell Township Committee after more than a year of work., Formed by the Hopewell Township Committee under former Mayor Harvey Lester, the Titusville Traffic Study Group was tasked with formulating ways that traffic should move through the village once two damaged stone bridges along the roadway were rebuilt., The northern bridge was closed back in March 2011 after severe flooding caused damage to the structure. The southern bridge was closed as a result of damage sustained by Hurricane Irene in August 2011. Both culvert bridges are owned and maintained by Mercer County., Work crews began rehabilitation of the bridges on River Drive over Fiddlers Creek and Steele Run in December., Located within Hopewell Township, the village of Titusville was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The Delaware & Raritan Canal runs parallel to the river and Route 29, and is crossed by several two-lane bridges. A biking/walking trail also follows the canal., In the past, residents reported that before the two portions of River Drive were closed about six years ago, a relatively large number of motorists were driving through the neighborhood to avoid traffic on Route 29 during rush-hour commutes or traveling to and from downriver Washington Crossing State Park., Traffic has lessened since around the time of the bridge closures., Peter Swanson, of the Titusville Traffic Study Group, presented the groups’ findings during the April 12 township committee meeting., Swanson is a resident of Titusville village and president of the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad in Titusville., One of the recommendations for the portion of River Drive near the northern bridge is to open the road, but prohibit right turns from southbound Route 29 onto the roadway. Swanson said it may be preferable to limit the turn prohibition to weekdays when cut-through traffic may occur, while still allowing access to emergency vehicles., “It will allow two means of access to upper River Drive, which is especially important for the fire company,” Swanson said. “It will allow boat rescue access from the south, which is preferable for boaters with large boats.”, For the portion of River Drive near the southern bridge, Swanson said one option was “to keep that area closed, but to provide emergency services access.”, “This would require constructing a gate, which emergency services could quickly open to get fire trucks or ambulances through there,” he said. “It would also require constructing a turnaround or a cul-de-sac on each side of the gate.”, Swanson specified that closing the roadway would only be done for vehicular traffic. Bicyclists and pedestrians would still be allowed to travel along the road., Hopewell Township Administrator Paul Pogorzelski explained that some of the study group’s recommendations would require approval or permits from the state Department of Transportation (NJDOT)., Mayor Kevin Kuchinski said he would like to see what NJDOT would deem allowable first before crafting the resolution and ordinance documents that thaht township committee would have to approve before implementing some or all the the recommendations., “I think we want to know what is possible,” Kuchinski said.
