Franklin looks to lower traffic speed limit on Cork Hill Road

Bruce A. Scruton, New Jersey Herald
·2 min read

FRANKLIN — The Borough Council has reintroduced an ordinance to lower the speed limit on Cork Hill Road from 35 to 25 mph, following a failed and unusual vote last month.

At the Council's Dec. 14 meeting, three of the six members were absent and of the other three members, one abstained, one voted no, and the third voted to approve. Under the borough's charter, the mayor, who presides over council meetings, can vote to break a tie.

However, Mayor John Sowden lives on Cork Hill Road and abstained from casting a tie-breaking vote. As a result, the ordinance failed to get a majority of votes and was not approved.Search Assets

One of the borough's biggest businesses is Braen Quarry, which has its only entrance on Cork Hill Road.

Rock dust is seen along Cork Hill Road in Franklin near the entrance to the Braen Stone Quarry Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
Rock dust is seen along Cork Hill Road in Franklin near the entrance to the Braen Stone Quarry Wednesday, April 13, 2016.

Truck traffic from the quarry must travel the northern part of Cork Hill to access Franklin Avenue which then leads to Route 23. Trucks can't go south because of an existing tunnel that has a height of just 10 feet.

There is constant traffic of dump trucks, including trailer dumps, on the mostly residential street. At the intersection of Cork Hill Road and Franklin Avenue is the borough's park.

At Tuesday's meeting, Councilman Joe Limon renewed his earlier objection to the lower speed limit, calling on stronger enforcement from the borough's police department.

Sowden said police Chief Greg Cugliari is planning to buy modern speed limit signs which use radar technology to alert a driver of their current speed. The signs are solar-powered so they can be used anywhere in the borough.

Local sports: Boys basketball: 2022 Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament bracket, scores, schedule

For subscribers: NJ faces ‘a real problem’ of pedestrian safety. Here’s what towns are doing to improve it

In addition, the units record the time and speed of every vehicle and have strobe lights to alert drivers who are violating the speed limit.

At the December meeting, councilmen Concetto Formica, Stephen Skellenger and Stephan Zydon were absent. Gill Snyder abstained and John Postas voted in favor.

At Tuesday's meeting, Limon voted against introduction while the other members, including Councilwoman Rachel Heath, who replaced Zydon on the council, voted to bring the ordinance to a public hearing on Feb. 8.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Franklin NJ looks to lower speed limit on Cork Hill Road