A complete traffic signal will be coming to the intersection of Ingleside Avenue and Route 31 next year to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and residents.
The Hopewell Township Committee announced that the traffic signal will be implemented in 2025 and replace the existing flashing signal at the intersection. A cost-sharing agreement with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the township was signed at the beginning of October.
Route 31 is a state roadway and Ingleside Avenue is maintained by Mercer County.
The committee explained that the intersection is problematic because the current flashing signal does not provide adequate gaps for drivers to turn onto Route 31 or cross over to Ingleside Avenue.
“Local residents have voiced their concerns about the dangers of this intersection, where risky maneuvers have become all too common,” the Township Committee said.
Township residents and officials have not been the only ones concerned about the dangerous and accident-prone intersection. Pennington residents and officials have voiced their concerns with safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists and the need for improvements at the intersection.
In this past three-year span, there have been 31 crashes reported by the Hopewell Township Police Department. Out of the 31 crashes, 11 of them resulted in injuries, according to the township.
“As traffic has increased in the township, the intersection at Ingleside Avenue and Route 31 has proven to be a safety concern. In recent years the number of accidents and near-misses has definitely grown,” Police Chief James Rosso said.
“Installing a fully functional traffic light at this intersection is a collaborative proactive measure by our Township Committee and the community to enhance the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. By regulating the flow of traffic with this new signal, we can reduce accidents, improve visibility, and ensure smoother, safer travel for everyone in our community.”
The new traffic signal improvement will not only help ease residents worries about safer passage for pedestrians and cyclists but provide smoother access onto and across Route 31 and enhance safety for those in a car, on foot, or bicycle, the committee said.
“Plus, it will result in improved circulation for important local routes, including the proposed Great Western Bikeway, which, when complete, will increase the number of cyclists crossing Route 31 at this intersection,” the Township Committee added.
Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning said ensuring the safety of township residents is “at the heart of what we do.”
“We are grateful to the NJDOT for its commitment to reducing road hazards,” she said. “This is a big win for Hopewell Township and everyone who crosses through this intersection.”
