Safety Alert System Added To Road Within NJ's Largest State Park

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON COUNTY — A new safety alert system warning drivers to potential flood conditions on County Route 542/Pleasant Mills Road/Batsto-Bridgeport Road within Wharton State Forest was recently installed, a Burlington County Commissioner said.

The new safety alert system's sensor activates flashing amber lights on nearby "Road May Flood" signs to warn motorists of the river's current state when the nearby Mullica River approaches flood level, Burlington County said.

The inability to entirely control the ebb and tide of the Mullica River in that area, plus the stretch of road's historic tendency to flood, made the need for the sign practical, said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion.

"The message ‘turn around, don’t drown’ is something we emphasize when talking to people about flood dangers," Pullion said. "As little as six inches of moving water is considered dangerous because it can cause a vehicle to lose control or stall. A foot of water will float many vehicles and can carry them away ... We encourage motorists to heed that warning and avoid driving through any floodwaters."

More than 1,200 vehicles travel the road that contains the new system each day, according to an August 2019 traffic count.

An nj.com article stated that 924,663 people visited Wharton State Forest in 2017, making it one of the most visited state parks in the Garden State. The article added that of all New Jersey State Parks, only Stokes State Forest, Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and Liberty State Park drew more visitors that year.

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