By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
LAWRENCE — Aiming to keep residents along Brunswick Pike/Route 1 Business in the loop, the state Department of Transportation showed off the changes on that road which will be coming their way at a special public information session last week.
Dozens of residents, many from the Colonial Heights and Slackwood neighborhoods, turned out for the open house at the Slackwood Fire House to look at poster boards illustrating the changes — from a grass median in the middle of Brunswick Pike, to a roundabout or traffic circle at Whitehead Road.
The changes, however, drew a mixed response from residents. Some commented that the changes are a waste and won’t do much to encourage new businesses to relocate to the southern end of the township.
But others, such as Gary Saretzky and Jane Tomsho, who each live in the Colonial Heights neighborhood on the east side of Brunswick Pike, said they believe the redesign will make the street look better.
“I am happy they are trying to revitalize the area,” Ms. Tomsho said. But Ms. Tomsho, like some other residents, is taking a wait-and-see approach as to whether the improvements will have an impact on business development.
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said the goal is to encourage businesses to invest in the area by making it more attractive. The speed limit will be reduced from 40 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour.
The changes to Brunswick Pike will slow down traffic and improve neighborhood “connectivity” for pedestrians, Mr. Krawczun said. Colonial Heights is on the east side of Brunswick Pike and Slackwood is on the west side.
According to the state Department of Transportation, which controls Brunswick Pike/Route 1 Business, the project is expected to get under way this month and will take about 22 months to complete. The work should be done by winter 2018.
The changes grew out of a study by the state Department of Transportation to address the township’s desire to redevelop Brunswick Pike/ Route 1 Business, between Pear Street and Lake Drive, into a pedestrian-friendly urban streetscape that promotes business development.
One of the key elements of the proposal is to create a 14.6-foot-wide grass median that would divide the two northbound and southbound lanes on Brunswick Pike. There would be a 8-foot-wide on-street parking lane on Brunswick Pike North, and a 4-foot-wide shoulder on Brunswick Pike South.
Another key element of the plan is eliminating the traffic signal at Whitehead Road and Brunswick Pike. A roundabout, or traffic circle, would take its place and provide a transition between the higher speed segment of Route 1 Business north of Whitehead Road, and the lower speed, traffic-calmed segment of Route 1 Business south of Whitehead Road.
The roundabout is proposed to be 150 feet in diameter. There would be three entrances and exits to the roundabout — a pair of two-lane entrances and exits for traffic traveling north and south on Brunswick Pike, and a one-lane exit to Whitehead Road. The jughandle would be eliminated.
Graf Avenue would end in a cul-de-sac at Brunswick Pike because of its close proximity to the roundabout. Traffic would likely be directed to the traffic signal on Brunswick Pike at Slack Avenue.
Township officials have been considering a redesign of Brunswick Pike for more than 20 years. The township’s 1995 Master Plan contemplated changes to Brunswick Pike. The Master Plan provides a vision for how the township should look.
The Master Plan mentioned the idea of putting in a median with street trees and plantings. The idea was to redesign Brunswick Pike with residents and businesses in mind, according to township officials.
