Politics & Government

Route 27 & Beekman Road Intersection Upgrade Close to Approval

Project will widen intersection and improve bottleneck conditions in the area.

After three long years, South Brunswick Township is close to obtaining Department of Transportation approval to begin work improving the intersection of Route 27 and Beekman Road.  The township went out to bond for the approximately $1 million improvement project about three years ago, yet the plan has remained in limbo due to difficulties obtaining approval from the state.

"We have the money in place (for the Beekman intersection improvements), the design is done, and we sent a request to the (state Department of Transportation) for approval," said Mayor Frank Gambatese.  "Every time we think we have it, there's a change in supervisors or managers of the department and it gets stalled again."

The final remaining hurdle for the project remains DOT approval for the electrical connection, but Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz is confident the approval will come before the end of the month, at which point the township will go out to bid for the improvements.

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"This particular intersection has become a real problem and we need to have major improvements done," Gambatese said.   "It's been a long time that we've been waiting for this.  Everything has been approved except for the the electrical connection."

Schmalz said the small two-lane road is regularly clogged with motorists making various turns and going to the shopping center across the street in Franklin.  

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"Right now it's causing a bottleneck on Route 27 and it's made things difficult for the Beekman Road residents," he said.  "They have to wait to do just about anything on that road.  Then we also have people who bypass the intersection by driving through Augustine Drive."

Schmalz said the improvement project will include the widening of the intersection, an improved turn radius, and the addition of a right-hand turn lane. The intersection will also receive a new traffic signal that will include right-hand turn only lighting.

"This work is just absolutely necessary to help with the backup on both Beekman and 27, which is bad in the morning and in the evening is just horrendous," Gambatese said.  "It's getting worse too, there's no room for buses and it's dangerous at times.  It has to be corrected and it's a shame that it's taking this long, but that's the nature of the beast."

The estimated time for completion of the project is not yet available, but Gambatese said once work begins it will create added problems for the area.

"Once it gets started it's going to be even more of a mess," he said.  "The road is going to need to be shut down for awhile and it's going to be tricky, with people having to get over to Henderson Road from Beekman, and that won't be a good thing.  But this is work that needs to be done and once it is done, it will solve a lot of traffic problems."


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