I was hit on 12/30/05 (around 6PM) as a vehicle ran the stop sign from Whitehall Road and hit my vehicle in the passenger side as I traveled North on 202.
I was fortunate, I was the only passenger, no injury, but my SUBURBAN was totaled.
The other vehicle was 4 High Schools girls, the driver only had her license 1 month, and her vehicle was totaled.
Too many accidents, there was one accident just last Saturday afternoon, appeared to be the same scenario.
Mrs. C has gotten a petitions signed, the Montville Township Committee knows of the problems with the intersection, but it's a Morris County Road, and NOTHING is being done by the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Anything anyone can do to aid in gaining any attention there Ron would be a blessing!
Posted by
Chris Schlomann
on
February 7, 2007 11:25 AM
My understanding is that the County has just completed a traffic study of the Rt. 202 corridor which covers from Montville/Lincoln Park border through to the exit/entrance ramps to Route 287. Mayor Daughtry also indicated at the last Towaco Civic Association meeting that the study report should be available at the end of February/early March.
Posted by
Carmela Novi
on
February 7, 2007 2:55 PM
ENOUGH ALREADY! Too much development, too many cars..you can't widen the road. It is no longer appropriate for a stop sign at this corner. Before some gets killed, let's stop the insanity and refrain from any more building in this area. No sidewalks....not even curbs...We are asking for trouble if someone doesn't put a stop to this nonsense. Do not fear the developers fight them from ruining the area in which you live.
I don't know that a traffic light at this site will stop the accidents. I think that if they cut the 4 lane "super highway" (aka Whitehall RD) back down to 2 lanes, that might slow the traffic down. As I live at this section, I know what the traffic is like during peek hours and putting in a traffic light will only make the traffic back up Pine Brook Rd even more. With the cars coming down the hill, if they have a green light, the speed will increase and we might see more accidents from that direction. I would like to see the traffic report to see if they took into account the amount of cars coming out of Two Bridges Rd onto Pine Brook and getting onto RT 202 from the trestle (not by the Post Office).
Posted by
Kathie Witty
on
February 7, 2007 4:27 PM
Traffic light is not needed, as Kathy said it'll just increase delays. She's also correct that 4 lanes are not needed, road should be 3 lanes; center lane for making left turns. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this stuff out, just a little common sense. Another good way to control traffic and prevent accidents is to have the police right a few speeding tickets in town, there are more than a few roads that speed limits are rarely followed. In a rural community where most roads have hills and curves excessive speeds are destined to have accidents.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 7, 2007 8:38 PM
yes why don't our police dept earn the pay that they get instead of sitting on their duffs doing nothing all day!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 8, 2007 7:02 AM
Not saying the police sit on their duffs all day, but you have to wonder why when there are local roads that have turned into race ways why they are sitting on 287 catching speeders??
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 8, 2007 9:24 AM
I agree that the traffic study is highly valued in the decision-making, but I am just trying to understand the logic in some of the posts indicating a light is not necessary. The design of 202 is ancient and never took into account the population growth of the past 40 years, and technology advances in passenger vehicles (power/speed) since it was constructed. Couple questions; A delay in time sitting at a traffic light for 30 seconds to a minute should be over shadowed by ones Personal Safety? Also, why is the onus and burden being directed at the Police? As a whole is Society so irresponsible in their driving to accept responsibility for their own actions?
Posted by
Chris Schlomann
on
February 8, 2007 10:13 AM
If a light is the answer then why not put one at 202 & Pine Brook and 202 & Barney, for that matter at Changebridge & Gathering or PineBrook & Horseneck or at both ends of Church Lane?? All have the potential of being dangerous intersections. Lights are not the answer, responsible driving is and based on what I see everyday on these roads the onus and burden falls directly on the shoulders of the police to help control speeds and provide the safety we deserve in our neighborhoods. And for the record, the electronic sign that they post around town does nothing to deter speeding.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 8, 2007 1:20 PM
I have been in town most of my life (40 years) and this intersection (and many others in town) has always been dangerous. I think a blinking light along with an Extra Large STOP sign would do the trick. Also, everyone is responsible for his/her driving (or lack thereof) skills and should pay attention and do the Speed Limit as they are posted at the "safe" speed.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 8, 2007 2:12 PM
As a parent who is now in the process of driving with my 16 year old son with a permit, I am even more aware of the dangers of this intersection than I was before. I have actually instructed him not to use that intersection if he intends to make a left hand turn onto 202. It is much safer, although out of the way, to go under the other railroad tressel that has stop lights at either end. Whatever the solution is, I hope the powers that be come up with one sooner rather than later.
Posted by
Mary Ann Martello
on
February 9, 2007 10:41 AM
Shure, Lets add Another Light. Although, a red stop sign didnt help, i dont see what a few more Red Lit Lights are gonna do...
I have come to the conclusion that Montville will continue to grow exponentially, therefore, there will be more traffic than ever before. County traffic studies are nice, but, the safety of our residents is becoming a "home rule " issue. That intersection takes a lot of driving expierience to negotiate safely on a daily basis. People from out of town, people trying to 'make time' by driving too fast need the safety that a Traffic light will provide. Ray Mulligan
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 10, 2007 6:10 AM
Ray,
Leaving aside what happens at the junkyard, there are only a handful of large parcels left - spread over a 20 square mile town - and the zoning or site constraints don't permit any large scale development.
Blaming the police for accidents and using speed control as the excuse at this intersection is just another example of people not taking responsibility for their own actions. Common sense along with a stop sign when approaching 202 says stop, look both ways, learn to judge the speed of traffic and make your turn accordingly. Put down the cell phone, the cup of starbucks,stop talking and drive like your life depends on it. The car has the potential to be a lethal weapon and deserves that respect. What the problem is, is the driving skills of the average person. And it may even begin in the driver training program. The inattentiveness and the rules of the road are largly ignored. Everyone drives as though they are the only ones on the road. If i think making a left onto changebridge from gathering is dangerous because sight is limited to the left, then I will choose another intersection, or proceed cautiously enough. People consistanly make left turns across traffic with total disregard of oncoming traffic. People will consistantly use the "right turn lane only" going east on horseneck road across changebridge road to go around someone waiting to turn. Passing on the right, using a right turn lane only lande is illegal and dangersou. Just Wait a minute! People will consistantly make a right on red, regardless of the traffic flow, "heck I can just squeeze in." Red means stop, not slow down and take your best shot. Pay attention and know the rules, teach your children the same, we cannot put a light on every corner and intersection in the state.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 13, 2007 2:19 PM
Anonymous 2:19 PM
You are absolutely right about the Gathering Road and Changebridge Road intersection!
I think a blinking light would be the "best" solution, at least for the time being. Putting a traffic light there will only back up the terrible traffic that occurs, look at the light by the firehouse, the traffic there is terrible and it would be just the same here. A blinking light should also be put at Pine Brook and Whitehall, because that hill there is so bad and people just fly through there.
On a sidenote, the whole business with 202 and River Road should go back to the way it was. It is so awkward to drive now.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
February 22, 2007 3:34 PM
Is there anything happening with this? Will we get some action or not?
I hope that they at least put a "blinking" light here.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 14, 2007 2:24 PM
I couldn't believe Mr. Anonymous who said a traffic light, or even a blinker was unnecessary at Whitehall and 202 !!! Does he know anyone who has had an accident there? Most of the people who have been involved in accidents ARE long-time residents, and ARE careful when making a left turn. Too bad the idiots who speed along from Changebridge , signal a right turn for the underpass, realize it's the wrong turn, and keep going straight, wite signals still flashing ---straight into cars trying to make a left turm!!!! DUH! doesn't take a lot of brains to figure out something needs to be done before someone dies. THAT is what seems to get attention: e.g. the light at the post office, the closing of the bridge in Towaco --- someone had to die before any attention was paid to these dangerous locations.
As has been said, even a blinker, and another at Hunting Hills, would serve as a deterrent to the speeders using 202 as a thruway.
This isn't brain surgery, folks - just plain common sense!! Terry Cavanaugh ( Mrs. C.)
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 22, 2007 1:00 PM
At the meeting where the traffic study results were revealed, it seemed as if the recommendation was to put a light at Whitehall/Rte 202 intersection. Looking at the pictures of the road leading up to the intersection, it was obvious that this is asking for trouble: the hump in the road at the Pine Brook Road/Whitehall intersection brings visibility to nil; the underpass renders the light invisible until you're practically on top of it, and all the warning signs in the world won't help if nobody's paying attention. I can picture the day when someone comes flying over the hump and rams into the rear end of someone in the line of traffic stopped for the light. Whoever suggested that Whitehall be made 2 lanes with a middle turn lane made a lot of sense...wasn't Changebridge Road narrowed from 4 lanes to 2 precisely because of speeding and racing on the road, resulting in accidents? Another good idea I heard from someone was to make the Whitehall underpass a right turn only intersection. Some would say that this would increase traffic at the Firehouse intersection, but honestly (to somebody else's point here) if you're making a left hand turn most people use that intersection anyway.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 29, 2007 1:44 PM
I am happy to hear that a light will be put at this intersection.
I also hope that the River Road/202 situation is corrected soon. That concrete barrier is not necessary. Whomever thought up that needs to rethink this. I do not go this way very often now. I would rather take another route.
