TINTON FALLS – A traffic light is expected to be operational at the busy intersection of Hance and Sycamore avenues in Tinton Falls in early 2020.
Sycamore Avenue (Route 13A) and Hance Avenue (Route 51) are both county roads. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders is planning improvements at the intersection.
During a meeting on Nov. 26, the freeholders authorized Stantec Consulting Services, Wall Township, to provide additional professional engineering services at an increased cost of $52,239 regarding a comprehensive traffic study and concept plans for improvements at Sycamore and Hance avenues and at Sycamore Avenue and Hope Road.
In 2017, the freeholders authorized a contract with Stantec Consulting Services to provide professional engineering services regarding a comprehensive traffic study and preparation of concept plans for intersection improvements at Sycamore and Hance avenues, and Sycamore Avenue and Hope Road, which authorized a maximum expenditure for these services in the amount not to exceed $99,763.
In 2018, the freeholders increased the contract amount by $9,173, to an amount not to exceed $108,937 for additional professional engineering services.
As a result of extensive ongoing discussions with Tinton Falls officials and residents, the freeholders, in August 2018, increased the contract amount by $45,000, to an amount not to exceed $153,937 for additional professional engineering services related to the additional analyses and expansion of the study area at the recommendation of the county engineer, according to the resolution.
Stantec Consulting Services was requested to perform design work for a temporary traffic signal at Sycamore and Hance avenues as interim improvements to the intersection which include the preparation of concept plans for two options for a temporary traffic signal (a span wire and a one-pole installation) and final design plans for in-house construction for a selected option based on the fewest number of utility relocations, according to the resolution.
Stantec Consulting Services requested an additional $52,239 to perform the required additional professional services work and the freeholders approved that request on Nov. 26.
On Dec. 3, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone told the Atlantic Hub that construction of the traffic signal at the intersection of Sycamore and Hance avenues is expected to begin in late January. He said the traffic signal should be operational by the end of March, weather permitting.
On Dec. 6, Borough Councilwoman Nancyanne Fama, who has advocated for the installation of a traffic light at Hance and Sycamore avenues, said, “I was an advocate for the county going back to the drawing board to see if there might be another option other than the two plans (the freeholders originally) presented to Tinton Falls.
“(Those plans) would have resulted in the taking of a lot of personal property and also really decimating Sycamore Avenue, the trees, and the character of the town. We fought hard to have the engineers take a look at that and understand the impact to our community.
“Gratefully, they did that and we will assess whether the more moderate approach is the appropriate approach for our town,” Fama said.
Atlantic Hub staff writer Kelly Giuliano contributed to this article.