Denow-Rt. 31 linkplans in the works

County official says road will be about four-fifths of a mile long — 4,250 feet, to be exact

By: John Tredrea
   Too much engineering work remains to be done for the Mercer County administration to be able to estimate when work on the Denow Road Extension might begin, or when the work might end, or how much the job will cost.
   But some facts about the extension, which will run west from the Brandon Farms development to state Route 31 in southern Hopewell Township, are known now, county spokeswoman Robin Williams said Friday.
   Ms. Williams said the road will be about four-fifths of a mile long — 4,250 feet, to be exact. Forty feet of the extension’s 60-foot right-of-way will be paved. The paved area will include two 12-foot lanes — one for eastbound traffic, one for westbound — and two 8-foot shoulders.
   The eastern terminus of Denow Road is in Lawrence Township, where it intersects Pennington-Lawrenceville Road just west of Route 206. West of Federal City Road, which forms the border between Lawrence and Hopewell townships, Denow Road runs through the 1,300-unit Brandon Farms development. Brandon Farms was approved by the Hopewell Township Planning Board and county Planning Board 15 years ago.
   Denow Road’s current western terminus is at the western edge of Brandon Farms. Some of the right-of-way for the extension that will connect the largest development in the township with Route 31 already has been cleared through woodlands. West of the woods, the extension will cross an open field before intersecting with Route 31 midway between I-95 and the Pennington Circle.
   "There will be a traffic light and two jug handles at the new intersection," Ms. Williams said. She added that a pre-cast, reinforced box culvert will be used to bring the Denow Road Extension across a small stream. The county wants to build the extension as soon as possible —hopefully within the next few months, she said.