Speed Limit Concerns Raised In Bridgewater, Petition Launched By Residents

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Speeding concerns raised on East Main Street in Bridgewater have prompted Township Officials to reach out to Somerset County to find ways to slow down traffic.

A petition started by Bridgewater resident Ashlyn Giordano, and now has 210 signatures, is calling for a lower speed limit on East Main Street.

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The main thoroughfare is a county road that now carries a 40 mph limit in Bridgewater before dropping to 25 mph at the Somerville border.

"On our street, where my children and many others catch the school bus, the speed limit is currently too high, posted at 40 mph," wrote Giordano. "This not only endangers the lives of our children but also makes it difficult for drivers to stop for school buses."

The petition also raises concerns about the intersection of Thomas Street and East Main Street.

According to the petition, children living in the Bridgewater Avenue area use that route to reach Bel Aire Park, but the intersection has four lanes of traffic, sidewalks on only one side of East Main Street and no crosswalks in the direction of the park.

Giordano wrote that reducing the speed limit would improve safety for children walking there.

At the May 7 Township meeting, Council Vice President Andrew Bucko addressed the petition.

Bucko noted the speed limit drop from 40 mph to 25 mph is "fairly significant, almost 50 percent reduction in speed there."

"I did make some contact with county officials to ask what would the process be to reduce the speed limit if it was deemed warranted?" said Bucko.

Mayor Matthew Moench also said the township had contacted the county.

"I sent a letter to County Administrator Colleen Mar in response to a petition raising concerns about the speeding and talked about that process and what may or may not be able to be done," said Moench.

According to Bucko in his response to the petition, he wrote that "these are the first steps in what may be a long process, but I want to assure residents that their concerns have been heard and are being taken seriously."

Speeding concerns were also raised recently on Vosseller Avenue. As a result, the Township has stepped up speed enforcement on Vosseller Avenue and reached out to the New Jersey Department of Transportation for a study.

See Related:

• Bridgewater Expands Speed Enforcement, Requests NJDOT Study On Vosseller
• Speeding Concerns On Vosseller Avenue Raised By Bridgewater Residents

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