NJDOT Proposes Redesign Of Dangerous Moorestown Intersection

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has announced a proposed project aimed at making a dangerous intersection safer. The proposed project concerns the reconstruction of the Route 38, South Church Street and Fellowship Road intersections.

The roads make up three intersections that work in conjunction with each other. When Route 38 becomes congested, this causes problems on the other two roads. NJDOT ranks this as the second highest congestion priority in the entire state, it said in an alert about the project on Wednesday.

“There is also a significant crash history at this location, in part because of the intersection’s geometric deficiencies,” NJDOT said. “The bridge on South Church Street over the North Branch of Pennsauken Creek (Hooten’s Bridge) is in poor condition and in need of repair or rehabilitation.”

NJDOT is proposing an increase in the number of lanes throughout the entire network, including left turn only lanes at the Route 38 and South Church Street intersection and a left turn only lane to the northbound South Church Street and Fellowship Road intersection. New traffic signals would be installed. There would also be highway lighting improvements.

Hooten’s Bridge will be reconstructed and widened. Curb ramps and sidewalks will be installed or modified to meet ADA requirements.

The purpose of the project is to “improve the level of service, improve safety, reduce congestion and provide ADA compliance throughout the network intersection,” NJDOT said.

A public information session about the project will take place on Wednesday, June 6, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the main meeting room of the Burlington County Engineering Complex, 1900 Briggs Road in Mt. Laurel.

The session is not a meeting in which representatives will make a presentation, but residents will be able to view the preliminary design plans, ask questions and share information with NJDOT representatives.

All or some members of Moorestown Council may be in attendance as members of the audience, the township said on Friday. Council members will not conduct official township business, and no formal action will be taken. However, members may make comment, ask questions or provide input concerning the plan presented.

Residents are invited to come at a time that suits them. Property owners with rental units are advised that tenants are also invited and encouraged to participate.

Strawbridge Lake Park, which is part of the New Jersey Green Acres Program, is within the area that will be impacted by the proposed project. Any taking of land from the park will require coordination with Moorestown Township and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); a Public Hearing; and review and approval by the State House Commission.

NJDOT is required to solicit public input to assist it to carry out that process, and information about it will be available at the information session.

Preliminary engineering is set to take place in the fall, with the start of the final design in winter of next year and the beginning of the project itself targeted for spring 2021.

For further information contact:
Kimberley Nance, Regional Manager
Office of Community & Constituent Relations
New Jersey Department of Transportation
1035 Parkway Avenue, PO Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
Phone: 609-530-2110
Kimberly.Nance@dot.nj.gov

Patch file photo