Township Offers Quick Fix to Stouts Lane Sidewalk Problem

Students from South Brunswick High School presented a petition last week to the Township Council in hopes of persuading the township to complete a stretch of sidewalk on Stouts Lane, running from SBHS to the shopping center on Route 1. 

The work to complete the sidewalk has been held up mainly by funding issues, with the work to finish the walkway expected to cost in the area of $500,000.

However, in the short term, the township has taken steps to try and make the walk safer for students who travel to the shopping center for work and various other purposes.

"I met with (Public Works Director) Ray Olsen to see if we could cut back some of the brush and trees (along Stouts Lane) to give (students) more room," said Township Manager Bernard Hvozdovic at Tuesday's meeting.

Hvozdovic said several feet of brush was removed in hopes of providing more free area for students to walk safely until work on the project can begin, should funding be found.

, SBHS Student Council President Ian Moritz and Recording Secretary Dan Gorzynski presented a petition with 900 parent signatures and over 1,000 student signatures urging the township to complete the sidewalk. 

"The road has blind curves that large buses travel on and there's no shoulder," Moritz said in November. "The walk to the mall from the high school is exceedingly dangerous."

Moritz added that a survey indicated an average of 10 students per day make the walk from SBHS to the mall.

Councilman John O'Sullivan raised the issue a few years ago and also offered the quick fix solution of removing brush to provide a safer walk down Stouts Lane.

As the township seeks grants to help bridge the funding gap, Hvozdovic asks any resident who sees an area of Stouts Lane that needs to be cut back further to contact the township at 732-329-4000.