Commuter proposes improvements for ‘Half Hour Road’

I am writing to discuss the traffic congestion at Half Mile and Newman Springs roads. Having recently moved my business to Middletown, I must commute back to Brick every night using Half Mile Road.

The majority of these trips, I encounter the same problem, which I know needs to be fixed to improve traffic flow on this road. Between 5 and 6 p.m., a long line builds connecting Newman Springs and West Front Street with standing traffic.

As a remedy, there needs to be two right-hand turn lanes letting traffic flow onto the parkway entrances, where most vehicles are heading from a long days work. The existing left turn would be adjusted allowing right turns instead of how it exists currently.

It would take no huge infrastructure improvements and not much of a cost to change a few signs and paint an arrow on the pavement. This would also improve the traffic safety on this road to avoid the stream of vehicles illegally driving on the wrong side of the street to blow by traffic to make their left turn onto Newman Springs Road. Middletown can also redirect police resources so that their monthly traffic crackdown on this road can stop, since there would be no need to drive illegally to avoid the traffic congestion.

In fact, accident reports may substantiate a need for change because of accidents involving those vehicles who wish to make left hand turns onto Half Mile from their place of business heading towards West Front Street. I have seen too many close calls from accidents where a vehicle has almost T-boned a car pulling out on the driver’s side. How many more accidents will happen before a fatality?

How can you help this problem? Call the traffic department in Middletown, call the Monmouth Board of Freeholders, or send your own letter to the newspaper. I have been told from my efforts that improvements to this intersection are possible; the problem is that it would take more than a year to solve. Bureaucracy at its best! We can all hope that an improvement will be fast tracked, but for now, I will continue to refer to my favorite road as “Half Hour Road.”

John Barrett

Brick