By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Monmouth County officials have informed residents about their plan to construct a roundabout in Millstone Township that will replace an intersection that continues to be a source of safety concerns.
On March 29, representatives of the county and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) hosted a meeting concerning a project that will replace the Scooter Corner intersection with a roundabout.
A roundabout is a traffic calming device. It is smaller than a traffic circle.
Speaking at the meeting were Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore, project manager Christine Mittman of the NJTPA and consulting engineer Bernard Boerchers of Greenman-Pedersen Inc.
The representatives gave a presentation about the project and answered questions from members of the public.
Scooter Corner is a five-spoke intersection that is not controlled by a traffic signal. The location is the meeting point of Stagecoach Road (Route 524), Millstone Road and Paint Island Spring Road.
Monmouth County’s plan calls for the construction of a roundabout at Scooter Corner.
According to the presentation, the intersection has safety and operational concerns, including a crash history and significant delays. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that between 2011 and 2015 there were 21 motor vehicle crashes at Scooter Corner.
The DOT reported that the 21 crashes caused six injuries. When asked by members of the public if there were any deaths between 2011 and 2015, the presenters said there were not.
The presentation described the intersection as being at a rural location and having unconventional geometry. Each road at the intersection has a different speed limit, according to the presentation.
The highest speed limit is 50 mph on Stagecoach Road and the lowest is 35 mph on Paint Island Spring Road. North of Stagecoach Road, the speed limit on Millstone Road is 40 mph South of Stagecoach Road, the speed limit on Millstone Road is 45 mph, according to the presentation.
According to the county, the roundabout will have five approach legs and a diameter of 190 feet. There will be storm water management basins, road lighting, pavement markings and signs, and handicap ramps. The roundabout will accommodate large vehicles.
The cost of the roundabout’s construction will be $1.9 million, according to the county. There will be a design cost of $200,000 and a right-of-way cost of $700,000.
The project will be funded through the NJTPA using Federal Highway Administration Highway Safety Improvement Program funds, according to the county.
County officials anticipate construction of the roundabout to commence by the winter of 2018 and to be completed by October 2019.
In the past few years, the county has constructed a roundabout at the entrance to Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, and a roundabout at a location in Colts Neck that is similar to the multi-spoked Scooter Corner intersection in Millstone.
While some members of the public questioned the effectiveness of a roundabout, the presenters spoke of its benefits.
According to the presentation, compared to other intersection treatments, a roundabout reduces the number of conflict points. Ettore said a traffic signal has 32 points of conflict, where a roundabout has eight.
A roundabout produces a reduction in the severity and number of crashes, according to the presentation. Boerchers said most crashes that occur in a roundabout are sideswipes and not head-on collisions.
Township Committeeman Bob Kinsey said the members of the Township Committee are in favor of the roundabout. As noted in the presentation, there is a perception that a traffic signal is inconsistent with the area’s rural character.
Kinsey said a traffic signal would leave vehicles sitting at a light and releasing emissions. And even if no other cars were coming through the intersection, a driver would be forced to stop at a red light. A roundabout, Kinsey reasoned, would keep vehicles moving.
Some members of the public agreed with the presenters that the roundabout has safety benefits. However, they were concerned about the impact the roundabout would have on Noreika Sales, a business at the intersection.
Noreika Sales, which sells and services lawn and garden equipment, is owned by brothers Charles and Bob Noreika. The business has been in operation since the 1940s. The name Scooter Corner originated from the business, as it once sold Cushman scooters.
The construction of the roundabout will cause Noreika Sales to relocate due to its close proximity to the project.
According to Bob Noreika, there were no zoning regulations in Millstone Township when the business was created. The business is currently in a residential zone, which may create certain issues with a move.
Ettore said county representatives will remain in contact with the Noreikas and work with them to prevent them from losing their business. According to Ettore, the county acquires property at fair market value.
