The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has agreed to install a crosswalk and a set of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the intersection of Route 206 and Skillman Avenue.
The crosswalk and rectangular rapid flashing beacons would be similar to the crosswalks and yellow flashing lights in place on Route 206 at Titus Avenue and at Phillips Avenue, across from The Lawrenceville School campus.
Lawrence Township officials had requested the crosswalk and yellow flashing lights to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection. There are single-family homes on Skillman Avenue, which also leads to the White Pine Apartments at the end of the street.
“The area is used extensively by pedestrians to cross Route 206 to reach the Adath Israel Congregation, Rider University, White Pine Apartments, New Jersey Transit bus stops and numerous single-family homes on both Route 206 and the residential side streets,” township officials wrote to NJDOT Commissioner Francis K. O’Connor.
There are five intersections on Route 206 between West Long Drive and Shelmet Lane that have a history of accidents, township officials wrote. Crosswalk improvements, combined with the rectangular rapid flashing beacons, would improve pedestrian safety.
Township officials said residents could use the crosswalk to get to the other side of Route 206, where they could walk or ride their bicycles to Darrah Lane.
Darrah Lane leads to the Lawrence Senior Center, the Lawrence Branch of the Mercer County Library System, the CVS pharmacy and other small retail businesses, they said.
The request for a crosswalk was made to Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski by a Skillman Avenue resident earlier this year. Lawrence Township officials were agreeable to the request.
The resident pointed out that she and her husband, as well as their neighbors and the residents of White Pine Apartments and congregants at Adath Israel Congregation, have to run across Route 206 to reach the bus stop, Darrah Lane, and services at the synagogue.
