'Improved' Traffic Light Proposed As Part Of Bridgewater Chick-Fil-A Plan

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Chick-fil-A is suggesting changing the timing of the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 202 and Towne Center Road as part of its application for a proposed Bridgewater location.

Traffic Engineer Patrick Downey for Chick-fil-A spoke before the Bridgewater Township Planning Board on Dec. 3.

"At the signalized intersection we actually identified a signal timing improvement, essentially changing the timing of the light to provide a little more priority to Towne Center Road to make it easier to exit the site. Not just for Chick-fil-A customers but for the center as a whole," said Downey.

Downey said the signal improvements would show reduced delays for those exiting the shopping complex as compared to the current situation.

"Even with the additional traffic from Chick-fil-A it will be more efficient to exit the site under the proposed condition based on those improvements," said Downey.

Chick-fil-A is proposing to open at the long-vacant former Ruby Tuesday location at the Bridgewater Towne Center off Route 202. Ruby Tuesday abruptly closed in August 2018 following financial issues.

Overall, many of the Planning Board members' concerns centered around Chick-fil-A patrons leaving the site pad, making a left onto the side street that connects to Verizon and Olive Garden, and then trying to make a left turn onto Towne Center Road.

"Making a left turn onto Towne Center Road even with adjusting the timing of the traffic light — it's a rough spot," said Kirsh.

Kirsh also asked if changing the timing at the signal would then impact traffic in other areas of the complex or onto Route 2o2.

"It sounds like a very good solution for people leaving the shopping complex but there is only so much air in the balloon so it has to shift somewhere else. Does that run the risk of … aggravating every other turn and traffic going straight through 202?" asked Kirsh.

Downey noted that this proposed plan was submitted to the New Jersey Department of Transportation and that the changing of the timing "would be an imperceptional difference" to the average driver.

Despite the traffic light change, Bridgewater Township Engineer William Burr still expressed concerns with traffic backing up on the side road due to patrons leaving the driveway into and out of the Chick-fil-A site.

"In terms of alternate layouts to the site, when I look at this, one of the big concerns I have — and I think it's shared by a number of the Board members — is when we are talking about that left [turn], left [turn] and the ability to have significant queuing once you leave the pad site, it just isn’t there," said Burr.

Burr suggested that one way to alleviate this issue and get more queuing space "is to relocate that driveway perhaps somewhere to the easterly side."

The application before the Planning Board calls proposes to demolish the existing one-story masonry building within the shopping center and construct a new standalone 4,989-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with a drive-thru with 29 queuing spaces. There would also be 43 parking spaces including one for electric vehicles.

The hearing on Chick-fil-A's application was stopped about halfway through the meeting and will continue on Dec. 17.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.