Maple Avenue to be a Dead End

After hearing , the Montville Township Committee agreed that immediate action was better than no action when it comes to a solution for in Pine Brook, where motorists are, at times, traveling at a high speed to cut through the neighborhood between Route 46 and Interstate 80.

The voted unanimously to have a resolution drafted for introduction at the next meeting that would allow for a dead end to be placed on the road and temporary barriers to be used until a permanent cul-de-sac solution is decided on. Barriers could be placed on the roadway by the end of June or beginning of July.

Township Engineer Anthony Barile presented two cul-de-sac options to the township committee Tuesday, neither of which were new to the committee. The committee has had the chance to review both options since the April 24 township committee meeting, however, several township committee members requested more information, while the other option was projected to cost about $85,000.

In addition to consideration of the cost, Barile said the township has attempted to make contact with two of the property owners who would be directly affected by either cul-de-sac location option, but has not received permission to move forward yet from one and has not received any response from the other. Township Attorney Martin F. Murphy advised the committee not to move forward with a decision on either project until permission has been granted by the property owners.

Still, Mayor Tim Braden and all of the committee members expressed that they felt something needed to be done on the street as soon as possible. Several committee members also stressed that the decision to use temporary barriers would not be the end of the discussion for the street.

"I am absolutely not in favor of a permanent temporary barrier," Committeeman Scott Gallopo said.

Township Administrator Victor Canning also told the township committee he thought it prudent to start out with the barriers and see how the residents respond.

"At least try the temporary barriers for a temporary period and see how it works and the reaction of the neighbors, and if it's a homerun and they say this was working, then you decide to go with option one or two," he said.

Barile said it would likely take about three months from when the temporary barriers are in place to begin the permanent construction on the street, still pending approval from the property owners. Resident Sylvia Walits, who has been vocal about how she feels there is an immediate need for a dead end on the street, said she is concerned about most of the summer going by, with children playing in the streets in potential danger, before the permanent solution is reached. But she also did not indicate a preferance for the cul-de-sac option.

"I don't care what you do, just as long as no children get hurt," she said.

Herb Eggers, a resident who lives in the neighborhood and , said he did not agree with the temporary barriers, in part because of their appearance. Eggers has expressed that he is amenable to one of the permanent cul-de-sac options.

"It's only going to detract from my property," he said. "I don't think that any one of you would want that barrier in front of your house."

While resident Keith Olsen said he also did not like the idea of having to look at the temporary barriers, he asked the committee to keep the project simple so that a solution can be implemented as soon as possible.

"I ask you to keep it as simple as possible so that it can move foward as quickly as possible," he said.

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