Salem County officials will install sensors in downtown Alloway at the intersection of Greenwich Street and Main Street to help with flow of traffic by enabling lights to change more quickly when no drivers are coming in the other direction. (Staff photo by Britney Lillya/Today's Sunbeam)— County officials will partner with Alloway Township to bring safety improvements to an intersection which locals have described as a danger to township residents.
The intersection of County Routes 581 and 540 — Greenwich Street and Main Street at the center of Alloway — has
for about two years now.
There is currently a full traffic light at the intersection, with approach detection cameras on the Main Street sides. Residents claim the problem with the intersection is that the light stays green along Greenwich — the heavier traveled route — until a vehicle is detected by the cameras on Main, which encourages vehicles to speed through the center of town.
With a pizza place and ice cream parlor situated at the intersection, Alloway residents have raised concerns to township committee that the speeding vehicles pose a real safety hazard to locals, especially children.
“We’ve been long-seeking a resolution for this intersection. It’s a danger and we’ve received a lot of complaints from our residents, especially about the wait on Main Street,” said Deputy Mayor K. Myrle Patrick.
As a solution to the problem, Alloway Township Committee recently forwarded a proposal to the county to split the cost of installing additional approach detection cameras on the Greenwich Street sides of the intersection.
The new system will essentially maintain red lights at all four sides of the intersection until an approaching vehicle is detected by the cameras, and will more effectively regulate the flow of traffic through the center of town, Patrick explained.
“We think this will give traffic a calming effect at the intersection,” he said. “We’re hoping this is a great resolution for the safety of our residents, and that it will effectively slow traffic down.”
The county last week approved Alloway’s proposal to split the cost of the additional cameras, which has been quoted at a total cost of $13,930 for both cameras, plus the additional cost of installation.
“This a perfect example of a good shared service, where each the county and township are splitting it half and half, at a benefit to everybody,” said Deputy Freeholder Director Ben Laury.
Laury added that the first two cameras at the intersection were installed about three years ago, and have proven effective.
Though Alloway officials had
, Laury said the county feels the additional cameras are better way to go.
“The four-way-stop was discussed, but we feel that this seems to be the better solution,” he said.
Patrick said the township is satisfied with the additional cameras as an alternative solution.
Contact Michael Williams at 856-935-1500 ext. 433 or [email protected]