Photo courtesy Monmouth County Division of Engineering
MIDDLETOWN — The county is seeking community input on traffic roundabout plans for the back entrance of Brookdale Community College, at the intersection of Phalanx Road and Campus Drive.
Joseph M. Ettore, P.E., Monmouth County engineer, said the roundabout will be very similar to the existing one at the main entrance of the Lincroft campus on County Road 520, which was constructed in 2007. Three concept plans have been presented — Concept 1, a round-about centered at Campus Drive; Concept 2, centered between Campus Drive and Hickory Lane; and Concept 3, centered at Hickory Lane.
There is also a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) Plan, which is favored by the board of directors of the Lincroft Village Green Association (LVGA), a driving force behind the proposal for the roundabout. It would include the replacement and realignment of Bridge MT-51 on Phalanx Road, with light pole installation and landscaping.
“Brookdale Community College was built in a bucolic residential area and the roundabout will preserve the aesthetics of the surroundings and create a safe gateway for those needing to enter, exit and pass by the college,” said Melanie Elmiger, LVGA member and Middletown resident, in an email response. She also said that Plan PPA will “brilliantly reduce high-speed accidents, keep traffic moving at a safe speed, reduce emissions and omit the need for Brookdale police to direct traffic at that intersection during high volume hours.”
Elmiger said the roundabout at the front entrance of the campus has made a significant improvement to the traffic flow on that road, which used to be backed up at all hours of the day, she said. She also noted a decrease in accidents and a lower impact on the community because of its traffic calming effect. “It truly is the safest alternative to a jughandle with a signalized intersection that had been proposed there, as roundabouts greatly reduce accidents and increase safety, since conflict points between vehicles are so low.”
But most importantly, she said it will reduce or eliminate the number of college students cutting through Hickory Lane, a residential neighborhood. “This plan will create a safer environment for the neighborhood children who are playing outside, riding bikes or getting on or off a school bus. Plan PPA will improve the currently noncompliant sidewalk for all ages and abilities and allow pedestrians to safely cross Phalanx Road and Campus Drive by way of the new crosswalks.”
Ettore, the county engineer, also noted the safety improvements that could be made with this roundabout. Specifically, he said it will slow drivers down and reduce the likelihood of severe crashes. According to Ettore, most accidents occurring in roundabouts are sideswipe crashes, while other traffic measures like four-way stops see more 90-degree crashes, which are typically more severe.
“Slower speed and the elimination of potential for a 90-degree crash is what makes them a much more desirable traffic control feature in terms of safety,” he said, adding that it can also be a cost-effective operation over time and is not impacted by power outages.
According to the county, there have been 17 crashes on Phalanx Road in the vicinity of Campus Drive and/or Hickory Lane from February 2016 to February 2019 – three of which were right-angle crashes of vehicles turning left from Campus Drive and vehicles on Phalanx Road.
Roundabouts are gaining popularity in Monmouth County. Since 2007, the county has implemented two roundabouts and currently has three in the design and permitting phases. Two others are in the plan for the future, said Ettore.
The implementation process is standard and similar to that of other road projects, but roundabouts require a bit more right-of-way, Ettore said. In this case, there will be absolutely no impact on any private properties as impacted areas all exist in the public right-of-way or are owned by the college.
He said roundabouts typically cost about $750,000 to $1 million to implement, but this one will cost more because work is needed on an outdated culvert on Phalanx Road.
A public information center meeting was recently held at the Middletown Public Library where residents learned about the county’s preliminary plans for the roundabout, gave their input and addressed their concerns. According to Ettore, the meeting “went extremely well” and was “very well received” from the audience. Their feedback will help the county refine plans for the final design.
Members of the Middletown Township Committee, Monmouth County freeholders and the county engineering department have been “very receptive” to the LVGA, Elmiger said. She called the project a joint effort with Freeholders Gerry Scharfenberger and Tom Arnone, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, Monmouth County Sherriff Shaun Golden as well as Ettore and Daria Jakimowska, chief engineer.
The public can provide input by filling out a public comment and suggestion form on the county engineering department’s website on visitmonmouth.com. Input will be accepted through Friday, Nov. 26. Forms should be directed to Daria Jakimowska, P.E., Project Manager Monmouth County Division of Engineering & Traffic Safety Hall of Records Annex, 3rd Floor 1 East Main St., Freehold, NJ 07728. They can also be sent by fax to 732-431-7765 or by email to daria.jakimowska@co.monmouth.nj.us.
