Monroe intersection project passes midpoint, but new hurdle from Trenton

MONROE TWP. — A three-month halt in roadwork near a golf course here probably won't get lifted for a few more months.

The good news on the Route 322-Fries Mill Road intersection is that about eight months of reconstruction last year pushed the project past the halfway mark before an unexpected halt was called on Oct. 6.

The bad news is heavy equipment won’t be back in action until good weather returns, so likely not until spring. And that timeline assumes state environmental and transportation officials say the project is good to go after they take a long look at how heavy rainfall might affect it.

Municipal officials, meanwhile, are looking at the upside. A project proposed as far back as 2006 is closer to the end than the beginning even as talks go on for significant residential and commercial development there, Mayor Greg Wolfe says.

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Monroe lining up development behind intersection project

“The unfortunate thing is there have been some delays because of stormwater management changes and things like that with the original plans,” Wolfe says. “But there is a projected date to have the project concluded by the summertime, which is just going to enhance the whole area.”

Wolfe says the completed intersection improvements will drive business into the township. One corner of the intersection is an undeveloped portion of the Hunter Woods residential community, and opposite it across Route 322 is the Scotland Run Golf Club.

“We just approved the plans for a brand-new, state-of-the-art Heritage’s store, which would be the third ever in our township,” the mayor said. “And that’s because the intersection is going to be done, and it’s going to see a lot of traffic through there. And right now, there’s a residential development that is going in. And there is also commercial frontage … right there on that one intersection.”

Gloucester County is using R.E. Pierson Construction Company on the project. The nearly $6.77 million estimated cost is paid for through the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The county directed work to proceed on Jan. 30, 2023, and the to-do list is lengthy.

• Road widening.

• Drainage improvements.

• Americas with Disabilities Act-complaint ramp installations.

• Road resurfacing.

• Turning lanes and through lanes on all four approaches.

• Utilities relocations.

• Upgraded traffic signalization.

The township originated the project design when Monroe was intent on doing the work itself. Those plans were extensively reworked when Gloucester assumed control around November/December 2021 at the request of the township, according to County Commissioner Matt Weng.

Fries Mill Road also is designated county Route 655. U.S. Route 322 is under state transportation jurisdiction.

“The level of service for this intersection was very poor, meaning that there were significant delays, backups, and traffic gridlock,” said Weng, who is the board liaison to the county Department of Public Works. “To increase the flow of the traffic through this intersection, right and left turn lanes are being added, which will allow more cars to flow through the intersection, rather than being caught behind cars making turns.”

Trenton questions force project pause, county looks to spring

Wolfe, who lives near the intersection, said the two roads are popular for motorists leaving or headed to Vineland, Glassboro, and Turnersville.

“That Pitman-Downer Road to Fries Mill Road in front of the golf course, traffic backs up there for about a mile during rush hour coming home,” Wolfe said.

The last available Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission trip estimates show Fries Mill Road, north of Route 322, with 14,555 vehicles per day as of January 2020. For Route 322 east of Fries Mill Road, the daily figure was 13,706 vehicles per day in October 2019. The county believes the current figures would be from 6 percent to 9 percent higher.

Weng said the work suspension in October was to provide the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and the transportation department with more planned storm water control basins. The borings are to confirm estimated groundwater elevations.

Weng says the work site has been winterized, with an expectation of resuming work in phases at least by springtime. Engineering needs to be finalized with state officials but once that is done the project should need six to eight months to be completed, he said.

Wolfe credited state Sen. Fred Madden for securing the funding, which the state at one point withdrew because of a lack of progress starting work.

“But Sen. Madden fought hard for us,” Wolfe said. “He got the money back. The county and the state took the project back over. And like I said, within months, they were up and running.”

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Gloucester County looks to spring restart of Monroe intersection work