Speed limit reduced on unsafe road
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - A section of Sharon Station Road will have a 35 mph speed limit.

The ordinance lowering the limit from 45 mph to 35 mph passed 4-0 at the Nov. 1 Township Committee meeting. The new speed limit applies to the section of Sharon Station Road between County Route (CR) 539 and CR 526.

Residents of the Woods at Cream Ridge subdivision, located off Sharon Station Road, had complained to the Township Committee about the traffic abutting their subdivision. At the Township Committee's Sept. 21, 2006, officials started discussing lowering the speed limit to 35 mph, which was recommended by Township Engineer Glenn Gerken.

The township also took steps to improve safety along the road that included creating a no-passing zone with doubleline striping from CR 526 to CR 539. Certain road repairs were also made, such as improvements of sight distances at the road's intersections with Sleepy Hollow Road and Dutchess Drive in the Woods at Cream Ridge development.

Deputy Mayor William Miscoski abstained from voting on the ordinance to lower the speed limit.

"Anything I say or do for or against Sharon Station Road, I end up in court," he said. "I'm abstaining on everything that has to do with Sharon Station Road."

A group that calls itself Citizens Advocating Road Safety (CARS) has filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court against the township regarding Sharon Station Road.

Barbara Isaac, of the Cream Ridge section of the township, asked the committee who would police the new speed limit. Miscoski replied that the New Jersey State Police would have to enforce the new limit.

"It's their job, not ours," he said.

Committeeman Stephen Alexander added that every road in the township is under the jurisdiction of the state police, as Upper Freehold does not have a municipal police force.

Isaac said she would be glad to call the state police every week to report on the speeding situation on Sharon Station Road.

Committeeman David Reed said the township had to reduce the speed limit for safety reasons due to the condition of the road. He said the township should look to improve the road and make it safer.