FREEHOLD – Monmouth County is expected to receive $1.6 million in federal funding for safety projects in the Howell and Upper Freehold areas. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) approved 14 projects at a recent Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 22.
These projects and improvements include: converting the two-way stop controlled intersection at Holmdel Road, North Beers Street and Crape Myrtle Drive in Holmdel into a modern roundabout, and applying high friction surface treatment, safety edging, centerline rumble strips, raised pavement markers, safety striping and signs to Stagecoach Road.
The roundabout project, part of the NJTPA’s Local Safety Program, is meant to increase safety in this particular intersection, because roundabouts have been proven to reduce crashes by 82 percent at two-way stop controlled intersections, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The other option for improving this intersection would be to convert it to a signalized intersection. The total cost if these specific improvements is $1,224,434.
The various applications and road improvements will be applied to a 1.7 mile stretch of Stagecoach Road and signs will warn of curves in the road. This project will cost a total of $375,000 and will be funded through the NJTPA’s High Risk Rural Roads Program.
“The Stage Coach Road grant will allow us to continue making important safety improvements along a roadway helping us to prevent injuries and save lives,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Monmouth County Public Works and Engineering Department who represents the county on the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “The intersection improvements in Holmdel will improve pedestrian and motorist safety and overall operations at an intersection with a history of unsatisfactory performance.”
The NJTPA Board approved $50.8 million in Local Safety Program and High Risk Rural Roads grants for projects that will proceed in fiscal years 2017 and 2018. More information on the program is available online at njtpa.org/LocalSafety.
