County Announces Safety Upgrades to Middle Township Intersection
Despite significant traffic calming upgrades over the past several years, the Middle Township Police Department continues to respond to several motor vehicles accidents per year at the intersection of Court House – South Dennis Rd. and Goshen-Swainton Rd. Both roads are operated and maintained by the County of Cape May.
“As a Middle Township resident, I’ve heard safety concerns related to this intersection for several years,” County Commissioner Melanie Collette said. “When I joined the County Commission in January and met with Middle Township Mayor Leusner, these concerns were high on our shared list of priorities.”
Court House-South Dennis Rd. is a major route to the barrier islands in the summer season. Goshen-Swainton Rd. has seen significant residential development in recent years and provides access to two large seasonal camping resorts.
Recently, the County awarded a contract to a traffic engineering consulting firm to evaluate the intersection. Based on the findings of this study, the county will proceed with the installation of overhead flashing caution lights equipped with back plates to increase awareness of the intersection approaching from the north and south. The approved plan calls for a pair of signal heads facing each direction of travel with the flashing red signal facing Goshen-Swainton Road and the flashing caution (yellow) facing Court House- South Dennis Road.
The plan also calls for the closure of the passing zone for south bound CR 657 (Court House- South Dennis Rd.) traffic leaving the intersection, and the addition of new traffic striping and markings.
“I want to thank the Board of County Commissioners for their ongoing partnership with Middle Township to continually improve the safety of this vital intersection,” Mayor Chris Leusner said.
Over the past six years, the County has performed several traffic calming upgrades along the approach to the intersection including the following:
- Closing the approach passing zones to the north along CR 657
- Adding centerline rumble strips and reflectors along Cr 657
- Doubling up the road warning signs and installing radar activated flashing stop signs along Goshen-Swainton Road
- Installing approach rumble strip arrays and warning text along both roads
- Adding radar feedback signs along CR 657
- Clearing trees at the intersection to improve sight lines
- Advising motorist to turn headlights on approaching the intersection
- Speed surveys and traffic counts
“Regrettably, these prior measures have not changed all drivers’ behavior approaching the intersection and traffic calming still remains an issue,” County Commission Director Len Desiderio said. “The addition of these overhead caution lights, traffic calming striping and supplemental road markings should further enhance the safety of the intersection. We encourage all drivers to be alert and follow the posted speed limits.”
County Engineer Robert Church emphasized that these latest safety improvements were part of an interim plan to improve the safety of the intersection in the near term. The County’s long term and permanent improvement plan is to evaluate the design and construct a roundabout at the intersection location which will slow traffic to acceptable speeds yet keep traffic moving.
