The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com.
Question:
Dear Mayor Coles,
Thank you for everything you are doing for Lakewood, we are very fortunate to have your leadership and wish you continued success.
I am writing because of ongoing issues with the intersection of Chestnut and New Hampshire. The left turn lane is extremely dangerous since they cannot see the oncoming traffic crossing the 70.
There continue to be accidents in and around this box, and would like to request a traffic study to find a way to make it safer, or to perhaps consider prohibiting left turns onto New Hampshire.
With 4 lanes of dense traffic traveling 50 mph it seems too great a risk to public safety, as anyone who travels this route can attest to, it’s a dreaded intersection because of the unexpected cars turning left.
Thank you for your consideration!
Response from Mayor Coles:
The improvements for this intersection have been scheduled for quite some time. Because of the proximity to Rt 70, the county had to work closely with the state before anything could be done. There will be a light at the intersection of New Hampshire & Chestnut. The turn off Chestnut will be redesigned as will left turn off New Hampshire on to Chestnut. I asked our manager to follow up with the county to see where they are with bidding this project out.
Thanks
Ray
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You obviously don’t live anywhere near there if you would suggest prohibiting making a left turn onto New Hampshire.
It’s the only way to get to that side of town.
And yeah it’s a disaster of an intersection.
If they opened Vermont and 70 the traffic to make a left onto New Hampshire will decrease immensely.
Lost track how many times and yearS this intersection and the same lousy answer has been given.
Election day is coming up.
i doubt scoop will post this
lost count how many times this intersection and lousy answer has been given
Dear Mayor Coles,
It’s me again thanking you for your wonderful service to the citizens of Lakewood.
I wanted to personally thank you. I pray in a small synagogue made up of many Brooklyn transplants who miss the “Old neighborhood” something terrible.
We had a difficult time finding people to sponsor the Kiddush (small post-prayer meal).
However, whenever you announce another traffic signal these transplants start to dance & argue over who gets to sponsor the next Kiddush.
The Herring is great. The Cholent is pretty good (it could use a little more Fleish) & the potato Kugel is out of this world. Not to mention the plethora of adults beverages.
Keep up the good work & keep putting up more traffic signals. My wife is not the best cook & the Kiddush is the only meal I truly enjoy all week.
Sincerely,
Fleishel Z.
Westgate
As is obvious, there are too many layers of government in NJ. Which os also a major factor in NJs high tax rate.
I’ve thought the same. Here only the city police handle the city. Only the county PD handles the county & only the state police handle the expressways.
To me seeing a relatively small area being policed by Lakewood PD, Jackson PD, Tom’s River PD, Howell PD, Manchester PD, Brick PD, etc. Plus NJ State Police (in Lakewood???) is absurd to say the least.
This is just stupid. With all the traffic lights already there should be a No Left Turn there. It’s impossible to make the right here. There is a traffic like not 500’ south. With all the traffic there already make it a no left turn there and make any traffic going up north lakewood use another form or getting there. We have extended Vine Ave and Vermont Ave to go north and the traffic has always been bad there no more traffic lights this is lakewood we don’t need a traffic light at every intersection!
The more traffic lights the merrier.
As a Chaver told me, “Looking down a street at night & seeing all the red & green lights is like having Xmas all year around!”
Bad plan!!! Leave the road configuration as is and just put a light, as planned, at New Hampshire and Chestnut with a left turn signal and lane on New Hampshire north.
The problem is getting the state to hurry and do something about all the traffic lights needed on the state roads going through Lakewood. They’re taking too much time to approve the necessary improvements.
Here are some suggestions until the county, state, Township figure out how to work together
How about no left turn when turning from NH onto Chestnut (when coming from Toms River)
Have the traffic coming from TR only in the right lane, leave the left lane for the cars coming out of chestnut,
Have the cars from NH (coming from Pine side) stop before chestnut road when it’s red by rt 70. That will allow cars from chestnut to turn (I know it’s far away but it’s doable)