Problem spot
unlikely to see
improvements
Intersection of Pond Road and East Freehold Road continues
to defy answer
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Prospects are dim for traffic improvements at the often congested intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads near Route 9.
And that location may get busier in the near future once the Kozloski Road extension is completed, which is expected to be soon. The project will extend Kozloski Road 1.7 miles from Route 537 to Route 79.
The extension is expected to place additional traffic on East Freehold Road as residents from southern Freehold Township and Howell use the Kozloski Road extension as a way to bypass Route 9 north through Freehold Township and enter the highway in Manalapan.
One of the problems at the intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads occurs as motorists attempt to turn left from Pond Road onto East Freehold Road in order to reach the light at Route 9 so they can take Route 9 south. At certain times, the motorists turning left have to contend with a steady stream of traffic on East Freehold Road that blocks the intersection and causes traffic on Pond Road to back up.
According to Freehold Township Police Lt. Robert Brightman, there were 25 accidents at the intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads in 2002 and 2,400 accidents in the township overall.
"We can continue to supply the state with accurate information to reinforce our position that they need to address the situation," Brightman said.
Township engineer Joe Mavuro said municipal officials are aware of the problem, but noted that the intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads belongs to the state. He said the state has no plans to do anything about alleviating the traffic pressure any time soon at that location.
Mavuro said the entire intersection — which encompasses East Freehold Road on the east side of Route 9 and Craig Road in Manalapan on the west side of Route 9 — is under jurisdiction of the state.
Freehold Township officials "are aware of the problem (at East Freehold and Pond roads). The county and the township have requested that the state do something there. They did widen and improve it a little bit. They put in another lane there which improved traffic somewhat, but there is a lot of traffic at the intersection, (and) people do become overanxious when trying to make that turn," the engineer said.
According to Mavuro, state Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives looked at the situation and said they can’t just improve that intersection, they would have to look at Route 9 and a couple of other intersections to the north.
"The township and the county were not very happy with that, but this is what we were told. We don’t foresee them doing anything," Mavuro said.
He agreed that the Kozloski Road extension will probably generate more traffic at that spot, as will any additional development in the vicinity.
Henry Kennedy, a Pond Road resident who frequently passes through the intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads, has given the problem some thought. He has a number of suggestions about solving the problems, which he outlined in a communication to the News Transcript.
His answer to the problem of what he called poor visibility at the Pond Road stop sign (heading south) is to remove the stop sign and make that section of Pond Road (between East Freehold Road and the Pond Road merge with Route 9 north) one way going north.
Another problem, Kennedy said, is the Route 9 grade and timer which gets preference. His solution would be to reverse the timer with the preference given to East Freehold Road.
Kennedy’s solution for the problem at Pond Road (heading north) which he said is inadequately marked at the intersection of East Freehold Road, would be to mark the pavement for two lanes and possibly widen Pond Road at the stop sign. He would also like to see the speed limit on East Freehold Road dropped to 40 mph and a yellow blinking light or sign a quarter-mile before the intersection’s stop sign.
He said motorists receive tickets and insurance points at the intersection because of the problematic design.
"Declare a no fault, no ticket zone," he said.
In addition to the intersection of East Freehold and Pond roads, some residents are also concerned about the intersection of East Freehold and Robertsville roads because of the increase in traffic from new development and road improvements that came with the bypass around Freehold Borough. They would like a traffic light and a lowered speed limit in that area.
Mavuro said, late last year, that he was aware of that problem, too, and has sent a letter to the DOT asking that an investigation or study be done to see if a traffic light should be installed at the intersection of Robertsville and East Freehold roads. The letter went out on Oct. 23 and there has been no response yet, he said last week.
East Freehold Road will be the location of additional activity when the township constructs Opatut Park at the corner of Route 79. Opatut Park is currently in the planning stages.