Residents of Grassy Lake Road attended Shamong’s monthly township meeting Feb. 4 in hopes that the committee will put the pedal to the pavement in making their road safer.
Residents originally attended a meeting in May 2013 presenting the committee with a proposal on what could be done to prevent motorists from speeding on the narrow, residential road.
Grassy Lake Road resident John Angermeier commended the committee for the job it has done since concerns were first raised in May, but said work still needed to be done.
“We presented an eight-point proposal with the final point being speed bump installation. The township was very understanding of our concerns and has tried to help the situation since May by providing additional speed limit signs, periodic placement of speed monitoring equipment, painting the no passing zone and requesting New Jersey State Police enforcement. But as you all know, the speeding continues,” Angermeier wrote in a letter to residents and the committee. “It is an opportune time to again go before township committee and express our safety concerns and appeal for installation of two speed bumps to address the dangerous speeding on Grassy Lake Road.”
Grassy Lake Road runs from Indian Mills to Atsion roads, intersected by Stokes Road. The section of road between Atsion and Stokes is posted 35 mph, while the part between Indian Mills and Stokes is 25 mph.
Several residents said they regularly witness cars driving more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit. They also reported several incidents of trees and lawns being damaged by drivers losing control of their vehicles due to excessive speeding.
Concerns about child safety, as well as the inability to walk or bike around the neighborhood, were also raised. Those in attendance mentioned that checking the mail or backing out of a driveway have become high-risk activities.
“Is it going to take someone dying before something gets done?” resident Brenda Edward asked the committee.
“This is not a BS answer to get you guys to go away,” mayor Ken Long said. “Something will be done. We want to get this fixed, but it does come down to budget and what we are able to do.”
Township administrator Sue Onorato said the committee, along with township engineer Dan Guzzi, will be doing a tour of Shamong’s roads in the coming weeks to prioritize what needs to be done when. Guzzi said he would look into the possibility of installing two permanent speed-monitoring devices that would flash if motorists drive faster than the posted speed limit.
Trooper Wayne Blancher of the State Police’s Red Lion Barracks was also in attendance at the meeting and assured residents their concerns had been heard and will continue to be.
“I have been on details on Grassy Lake Road so it something we are addressing,” Blancher said. “I will request to have our speed monitoring device with the New Jersey State Police seal placed on the road as well as look into having details placed on the road during peak travel times.”
Long requested that residents be patient with the committee in further addressing the road but to expect a meeting at the end of March.
