The drive from Washington to Allentown along Robbinsville-Allentown Road (Route 526) soon may take a few seconds longer.
By: Mark Moffa
WASHINGTON The drive from Washington to Allentown along Robbinsville-Allentown Road (Route 526) soon may take a few seconds longer; a traffic light at the intersection with West Manor Way likely will begin operating before the end of this month.
Township Engineer Jack West said the light was needed due to increased traffic from the Matrix Development Group’s warehouse complex at the Northeast Business Park, a 400-acre office and industrial park adjacent to Exit 7A of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Trucks exiting the warehouse complex need to make a left turn off West Manor Way onto Robbinsville-Allentown Road to return to the Turnpike.
"Over time there will be quite a bit more traffic at that intersection," Mr. West said. "The biggest reason is because of the trucks, just because they pull out a bit slow."
Mr. West said the light was turned on Friday, and will blink yellow and red for about two weeks. Motorists on Robbinsville-Allentown Road receive a yellow light and drivers coming from West Manor Way are given a red light.
"The purpose for that is just so that people get used to the signal," Mr. West said.
He said the light was installed by Matrix and is the property of Mercer County because Route 526 is a county road.
Installation of another traffic signal, at the intersection of Meadowbrook and Gordon roads with Route 130, still is scheduled to begin in July.
The township, Mr. West said, will advertise this week to accept bids for the project from contractors.