Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles responds to your ‘Ask The Mayor’ questions: Cedarbridge Ave & Swarthmore

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

There is a grassy median in the middle of the street towards the end of Swarthmore right before it hits Cedarbridge Avenue. This results in the intersection on Cedarbridge being very wide from when it first hits Swarthmore until it ends. When heading south on Cedarbridge Avenue, if you want to make a left turn onto Swarthmore, the traffic light is not placed in a sufficiently southern location. When waiting for a break in northbound Cedarbridge traffic so that one can safely turn left onto Swarthmore, the choices are not to go even the slightest bit into the intersection, resulting in needing a much larger distance to travel when actually making the left turn and therefore needing a much larger break in traffic in order to do so safely, or waiting in a totally safe and legal location further into the intersection but without being able to see the traffic signal at all, since the positioning of the traffic light is such that every single one of the signals is passed as soon as you go even a drop past the initial break in the intersection. Can this be adjusted?

Response from Mayor Coles:

Earlier this year, I asked the County to redesign this intersection with a turning lane and left turn arrow to allow for safe turns and decrease the backup when someone is turning. They assured me it was in their plan to work on this intersection and several others in the area. I will ask our engineering department to follow up and see when we can expect some work over there.

Thanks

Ray

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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

On my way to the Ocean County Committee meeting, on November 5,approximately 17:30 hours, a 2000 something huge Mercury died right in front me (no battery, no lights, invisible) about 25 yards from the intersection in the center lane of Southbound Cedarbridge approaching New Hampshire. I immediately called LPD informing them of the hazardous situation at this most dangerous intersection. Weather conditions were heavy rain. Southbound traffic was heavy and chaotic trying to move into the left or right lanes to move around our vehicles in an extremely uncoordinated and selfish manner. I had my flashers on but to no avail. I was dressed in a suit and tie and decided to put on a NYNJECTF jacket (of which I am a member in good standing) which has a reflector to more visibly direct traffic. There is more to the story regarding additional warning lights from back in the day, but the upshot is it took the LPD over a half hour to respond and I wound up getting a summons for basically being a good samaritan. I did whatever it took to keep that notoriously dangerous intersection safe, missing my County Committee meeting because I was detained for over a half hour. I have discussed the situation with our legal defense team at the National Police Defense Foundation, which BTW donated $10,000 after Chris Matzlozc was tragically murdered, and we will discuss the matter in court. IMHO I believe the officers (who are supposedly my brothers in blue – although I am retired but maintain professional contact with several Federal Agencies) treated me poorly and detained me unnecessarily. I have been treated very fairly in the rare occasions that I have encountered LPD officers, outside of the friends on the force I know and this is one of the few circumstances where I take exception. Especially when I likely prevented potentially dangerous conditions at likely the most dangerous intersection in town. Just thought I’d let you know. In 50 years of driving I have not received a single traffic ticket. Thanks for listening. Ray, I’m not asking for any favors here. That’s not and never has been my way. NPDF legal counsel and I will take it up in court.

2 COMMENTS

Ron Benvenisti December 3, 2018 12:42 pm At 12:42 pm

On my way to the Ocean County Committee meeting, on November 5,approximately 17:30 hours, a 2000 something huge Mercury died right in front me (no battery, no lights, invisible) about 25 yards from the intersection in the center lane of Southbound Cedarbridge approaching New Hampshire. I immediately called LPD informing them of the hazardous situation at this most dangerous intersection. Weather conditions were heavy rain. Southbound traffic was heavy and chaotic trying to move into the left or right lanes to move around our vehicles in an extremely uncoordinated and selfish manner. I had my flashers on but to no avail. I was dressed in a suit and tie and decided to put on a NYNJECTF jacket (of which I am a member in good standing) which has a reflector to more visibly direct traffic. There is more to the story regarding additional warning lights from back in the day, but the upshot is it took the LPD over a half hour to respond and I wound up getting a summons for basically being a good samaritan. I did whatever it took to keep that notoriously dangerous intersection safe, missing my County Committee meeting because I was detained for over a half hour. I have discussed the situation with our legal defense team at the National Police Defense Foundation, which BTW donated $10,000 after Chris Matzlozc was tragically murdered, and we will discuss the matter in court. IMHO I believe the officers (who are supposedly my brothers in blue – although I am retired but maintain professional contact with several Federal Agencies) treated me poorly and detained me unnecessarily. I have been treated very fairly in the rare occasions that I have encountered LPD officers, outside of the friends on the force I know and this is one of the few circumstances where I take exception. Especially when I likely prevented potentially dangerous conditions at likely the most dangerous intersection in town. Just thought I’d let you know. In 50 years of driving I have not received a single traffic ticket. Thanks for listening. Ray, I’m not asking for any favors here. That’s not and never has been my way. NPDF legal counsel and I will take it up in court.
yay December 3, 2018 10:46 pm At 10:46 pm

Thanks alot hope it’s going to done soon cuz its a big problem

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