Politics & Government

Crosswalks to be Added for South Brunswick Bikeway

Freedom Trail will run from Ridge Road in Kingston to Route 1, and on the western side of Route 1 the path will run by Stouts Lane, across New Road and then back to Ridge Road.

The South Brunswick Township Council approved an ordinance last week to establish two crosswalks on Ridge Road and New Road in connection with the Freedom Trail bikeway.

The crosswalks will be placed on New Road between Ridge Road and Route 522, and on Ridge Road near the firehouse. Once completed, the 10-mile bikeway will run from Ridge Road in Kingston to Route 1, and on the western side of Route 1 the path will run by Stouts Lane, across New Road and then back to Ridge Road.

"It's moving along and we hope to have it done by the spring," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz.

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The Freedom Trail project is expected to cost about $500,000 and will be paid for by a grant from the Department of Transportation. South Brunswick was among 33 municipalities and counties statewide to share in the $7.6 million grants awarded under four state-funded local aid programs – Transit Village, Centers of Place, Bikeways and Safe Streets to Transit – run by the DOT. The grants were awarded in early 2010. 

"This will allow residents on the east side of Route 1 to utilize the bike path running from Route 1 to Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction and be able to bike about five miles on that side," Schmalz said.

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The project also includes the clearing away of shrubbery and overgrown vegetation, installation of asphalt and signage, as well as posts to keep motor vehicles from entering the path. Unfortunately there are no immediate plans for a pedestrian bridge over Route 1 to connect the path.

"It would be great if we got the pedestrian bridge on Route 1 but they're not doing that yet," Schmalz said. "We're not doing too much on the other side of Route 1 except re-graveling the portion that's paved, re-striping it and putting up some signage. If we ever do get the bridge then people will be able to traverse the whole town on a bike."

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