Another I-195 interchange in U.F. is possible
If federal government authorized project, most officials would support it
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - A resident has asked members of the governing body to go on the record with their stance regarding a possible I-195 interchange on Sharon Station Road.

Trish Dore, of the Woods at Cream Ridge subdivision, made the request at the July 19 Township Committee meeting, saying that Allentown residents have advocated for the creation of the interchange. Other residents in Dore's development have been appearing before the Township Committee for more than a year regarding traffic and truck issues on Sharon Station Road.

Township Attorney Granville Magee reminded committee members that a lawsuit regarding Sharon Station Road has been filed against the township in state Superior Court in Freehold by a group of local lawyers that calls itself CARS, or Citizens Advocating Road Safety. Magee said the lawsuit does not mention the possible interchange so he does not think it is inappropriate for the Township Committee to discuss it.

Committeeman Bob Faber said the federal government has jurisdiction over Route I-195 and does not want its interchanges too close together. He noted that Route I-195 already has an interchange at Cox's Corner, which is Exit 11, and at Allentown, which is Exit 8. Any Sharon Station Road interchange would have to go between those exits, he said.

Mayor Stephen Fleischacker said pursuing the creation of an interchange is a long-term project and that while he supports it, it would take years before anything were to happen.

"In the long term, the community will suffer the consequences of regional traffic coming through the community," he said.

Fleischacker said that like most communities with suburban sprawl, Upper Freehold will see lines of traffic getting longer on roads not designed to handle many vehicles. He said the traffic buildup will result in safety issues for people trying to get in and out of their developments and in other issues regarding contamination from idling cars and trucks.

Fleischacker said federal requirements for the creation of new interchanges are based on population numbers. As the township's population grows, the exits on I-195 could get closer together, he said.

Deputy Mayor William Miscoski said he has been in favor of an interchange at Sharon Station Road for many years.

Committeeman David Reed said he considers a Sharon Station Road interchange a better idea than the easterly bypass that has already been built around Allentown. He said the bypass created more traffic near housing developments in Upper Freehold. Reed said he believes that a Sharon Station Road interchange would move traffic away from those developments.

Committeeman Stephen Alexander said the easterly bypass did create a tremendous amount of traffic for Sharon Station Road. Alexander also noted that another major housing development, Perl Acres, has been approved for that road.

He said the interchange issue is a case of "be careful of what you wish for."

A Sharon Station Road interchange would give Upper Freehold five interchanges on I-195, according to Alexander. He said that the federal Department of Transportation prefers to have a minimum of two miles between interchanges.

Alexander said the Township Committee also needs to look at ways to make it safer for children in that area to walk to school, given that funding for such projects is now available. He also said the project would require cooperation with Allentown and that it could reduce busing costs.