Planning Board cites expense of relocating Alexander Road span.
By: Gwen Runkle
WEST WINDSOR After months of heated public debate, the township Planning Board finally has decided where the Alexander Road bridge should be rebuilt right where it is now.
Following news that the state Department of Transportation would pay for rebuilding the bridge only at its current location, the board voted 8-1 Wednesday to keep the bridge in its current spot.
Jackie Alberts, Township Council liaison to the board, voted against the measure because she felt the board should have planned for two bridges, one in the current location and another farther south.
But the majority of the Planning Board was unwilling to have the township spend the extra money to build a second bridge or move the current bridge south to North Post Road or Everett Drive.
Officials from the DOT estimated rebuilding the bridge in its current location would cost about $3.5 million. If the township chose to move the bridge elsewhere, the DOT would provide that amount, but the township would have to shell out an additional $2.5 to $4 million for new roadway construction.
Several board members also pointed out problems with environmental constraints and the taking of homes if it were to go with the southern options.
"If the DOT has to do an environmental impact study, the current Alexander Road bridge could fail before a bridge at North Post Road or Everett Drive is ever built," said Planning Board member Larry Hollander.
"If the state is saying it can pay for the bridge, then the goal should be to help them design it," added fellow board member Pat Greber. "Let’s leave the bridge where it is, not take any homes and not take away our heritage."
But while the board pledged to work closely with the DOT in designing the bridge and approved provisions stating Alexander Road would not be widened, residents of the Berrien City neighborhood were not happy with the board’s decision.
"The Planning Board’s vote ensures that our residents will suffer years of construction and detours only to be rewarded with a brand new, woefully inadequate, two-lane bridge in a bad location with a bad intersection," said Susan Abbey of Berrien City. "It’s a waste of DOT money."
Susan Conlan, also of Berrien City, agreed. "The decision to adopt Option 3 (building the new bridge at the existing site) will direct more traffic through Berrien City. This will make our need to add pedestrian safety all the more critical. I hope the mayor and Township Council will want to work with us on this," she said.
Residents of Windsor Haven, which supported the southern bridge options along with Berrien City, also were disappointed, mainly due to concerns about the lack of emergency vehicle access to their neighborhood.
"We don’t back the Planning Board’s decision," said Joe O’Shea of Windsor Haven. "No licensed traffic engineer or public safety official was called upon during the public hearing to testify regarding our concerns."
On the other hand, residents of Clarksville Road, Benford Estates, Wellington Estates, Bear Brook Road and Sunrise supported the Planning Board’s decision.
"I think the Planning Board did their job," said Robert Cavaliere of Clarksville Road. "They took a look at all the information available and ended up with the option that makes the most sense."
Bob Redmond of Benford Estates agreed. "The 8-1 vote validates the position we’ve been trying to express all along," he said. "Leaving the bridge where it is continues three distinct approaches to the bridge Wallace Road, Alexander Road and Clarksville-North Post Road which consequently disperses the traffic."
The DOT anticipates beginning construction on the new bridge in 2005 or 2006.
The board’s choice on the bridge marks its last decision for the township’s draft Master Plan. The board is expected to take one last look at all the changes it has made to the plan on April 10 and a public hearing for the final draft of the Master Plan has been scheduled for May 15.