Traffic safety concerns for the new Mullica Hill Surgical Arts Center and recent road closures were topics of discussion at the meeting
At the Monday, Dec. 18 committee meeting, Mayor Louis Manzo addressed safety concerns expressed by members of the Harrison Township community about the incoming Mullica Hill Surgical Arts Center’s driveway access to Theresa Drive and the Route 322 Bypass. As well, residents brought forth frustrations in regard to recent ongoing construction and road closings, such as excess mud left behind from work crews and infrequent notices on when roads were to be shut down.
According to Manzo, objections have been raised by residents on the use of an exit and entry driveway on Theresa Drive for the new Mullica Hill Surgical Arts Center being built on Mullica Hill Road. Specifically, many worry the access point will cause “dangerous situations” if turning off of the Route 322 Bypass and onto Theresa Drive, as well as create more traffic flow in the nearby housing development from patients exiting left onto Theresa Drive, seeking access back onto Mullica Hill Road.
As a result, Manzo said, the township initiated a series of discussions with the property owner, Sean Bidic, to address potential solutions to avoid the concerns.
“We expressed the desire for a consideration of closing, meaning actually not building at this point, that exit/entry on Theresa Drive,” Manzo said. “It was quickly determined in the conversations that not building the driveway was not feasible based on the original approvals.”
According to Manzo, entry and exit approvals were granted by the county since both main roads, Mullica Hill Road and the Route 322 Bypass, are “standard county roads.” Acquiring an amendment to those approvals would require a “complete work stop,” Manzo said, which was not an option.
Additionally, Manzo said, there are no traffic flow studies indicating the driveway would cause anincrease in traffic into the housing development from exiting left onto Theresa Drive, nor has there been any indication the creation of a dangerous intersection connected to the use of the driveway.
“The county feels they’ve avoided such danger by denying the applicant their request for a driveway directly onto the bypass,” Manzo said.
In wanting to maintain a relationship with local residents, Manzo said, Bidic has offered to proactively seek to avoid these potential issues by providing patients with directions not to turn left from the Theresa Drive driveway, and is willing to look into additional signage if the situation were to become a problem.
Manzo said the township has the responsibility to police the traffic, and will be directing Police Chief Thomas Mills to have a patrol process in place as the building becomes operational.
“[Police patrols], coupled with Bidic’s direction to patients, can hopefully condition patients concerning the left turn out onto Theresa Drive,” Manzo said.
To monitor traffic turning on and off of the bypass to enter or exit the building, Manzo plans to conduct an initial review of the traffic flow 90 days after the center opens for business, as well as an evaluation at the 12-month mark.
“In between that point, if there are other things happening between 90 and 365 days, we’re going to react to that as an advocate for our residents with this new use as we would do normally,” Manzo said.
Additional concerns were presented at the committee meeting by resident Kristi Gimpel, who said there is an excess amount of mud and debris in her development on Kaylas Way due to the ongoing Surgical Arts Center construction and road work.
“The amount of mud is atrocious, it’s on everyone’s car; and I don’t mean speckles, I mean our cars are covered in it,” Gimpel said.
Also, Gimpel said while residents were notified of street closures for the Mullica Hill Surgical Arts Center, further closings occurred the following weeks without alerting the public.
According to Deputy Township Administrator Dennis Chambers, the added road closures were in conjunction with a separate project by New Jersey American Water, which had contracted with Henkels & McCoy, Inc. As a subcontractor for New Jersey American Water, the only people they are required to notify of road closings are the schools and the police department.
“With the big utilities, they just come in and do their work and don’t typically tell residents anything,” said Mike Gonserkevis, superintendent of wastewater management.
Chambers said the township would be contacting both Mullica Hill Surgical Arts Center and Henkels & McCoy, Inc., contractors to address the mud left in the streets, and request the crews sweep daily at the end of the workday.
In other news:
Manzo and the committee presented a proclamation at the meeting recognizing Jan. 21 through Jan. 27 as School Choice Week.
“All children in the Township of Harrison should have access to the highest quality education as possible,” Committeeman Don Heim read from the proclamation. “Township of Harrison recognizes the important role that an effective education plays for preparing all students in the township to be successful adults.”
According to Heim, School Choice Week raises awareness for effective educational options across the country, and is celebrated by millions of students, parents, educators, schools and organizations.
“Educational variety not only helps diversify our economy, but also enhances the vibrancy of our community,” Heim said.
