I-95/Scudders Falls Bridge Plans Discussed at Public Hearing in Ewing
Raymond C Martin Jr
> > Scuttlebutt on Scudder crossing: Planners outline proposals for I-95
> > bridge
> >
> > DAVE SOMMERS , Staff Writer 06/23/2004
> >
> > EWING -- A comment scribbled on the public suggestion board said what was
> > on the minds of many motorists: "Quit Studying and Build It."
> >
> > But despite the anxiety over traffic and vehicle safety on the
> > increasingly crowded I-95/Scudders Falls Bridge, officials at last night's
> > public meeting held in the gym at Villa Victoria Catholic School said it
> > will take until 2008 before the first shovel-full of dirt is turned over.
> >
> > As it stands now, highway engineers, with input from state officials and
> > local residents, are trying to determine which of the five bridge
> > expansion proposals would best alleviate the daily traffic jams-- while at
> > the same time preserving local properties and wildlife.
> >
> > "Once the project team decides on a plan (in late 2004 or early 2005),
> > we'll still have several years applying for various permits," noted Bob
> > Briggs, an environmental consultant with STB Inc., one of several firms
> > hired by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
> >
> > Once the project is approved, it still could take several years to
> > complete the bridge improvements, and that's if everything goes according
> > to schedule.
> >
> > Last night, about a dozen consultants provided information to a steady
> > stream of locals, most of whom stopped by the meeting to see how the
> > bridge improvement project would affect their property.
> >
> > "I'm interested in getting a sound barrier to abate all the noise," said
> > Ewing Township resident James Astbury, who lives in one of about a half
> > dozen homes just north of the bridge on the New Jersey side.
> >
> > "Already the noise level is at about 70 decibels during rush hour," he
> > said.
> >
> > Tim Gunner, a consultant with DMJM+Harris engineering firm, said the
> > entire stretch of Interstate 95 between Bear Tavern Road in Ewing and
> > Route 532 in Bucks County is being surveyed to determine which bridge
> > alternative would be most effective in improving traffic flow.
> >
> > Of the five improvement plans under consideration, one calls for simply
> > widening the existing bridge from it's current two lanes in each direction
> > to a minimum of three lanes, plus an "alternative" lane for local traffic,
> > by extending girders out to the sides.
> >
> > Another proposal calls for replacing the existing four-lane roadway
> > structure which currently sits atop of the massive columns by knocking it
> > down and building one with six through lanes, three in each direction, in
> > addition to shoulders and alternative lanes for local traffic.
> >
> > Another plan, called the Collector-Distributor proposal, would involve
> > building six "through" lanes, three in each direction, with two local
> > alternative lanes built off to the side.
> >
> > And under the New Bridge plan, construction workers would build a second
> > entirely separate bridge alongside the old bridge. One would accommodate
> > northbound traffic while the other handled southbound.
> >
> > "At this point, we do not favor any particular project," said Linda
> > Spalinski, the Director of Strategic Planning.
> >
> > "It is simply too early to know. The one thing we can say is that everyone
> > agrees that there is a (congestion) problem which must be addressed," she
> > said.
> >
> > But regardless of which plan is chosen, the resulting traffic pattern will
> > affect surrounding communities from New Hope to Hamilton Township.
> >
> > One official with a keen interest in the project, Trenton Director of
> > Planning Andrew Carten, said he attended last night's meeting to get a
> > better idea how traffic will affect the city's idea of turning Route 29
> > into a boulevard rather than a high-speed highway.
> >
> > "Clearly we're interested in vehicles getting onto and off of I-95, and
> > whether it will reduce or increase the traffic impact on Trenton," Carten
> > said.
> >
> > The N.J. Department of Transportation has already hired a consultant to
> > study the idea of creating a boulevard type walkway along Route 29 near
> > Calhoun Street, Carten said.
> >
> > Bill Brooks, a retired resident of Ewing township, hopes the project won't
> > get bogged down by the type of local naysayers who often complain that
> > such projects adversely affect the community.
> >
> > "You can't have progress without inconveniencing someone, somewhere,"
> > Brooks said.
> >
> > "I think the people doing this are making an effort to affect the fewest
> > amount of people," he said.
> >
> > But whatever happens, the myriad signs currently part of the Jersey-side
> > exit ramps, must be eliminated, he said.
> >
> > "It's like a bowl of spaghetti," he said."It's really confusing for
> > someone not familiar with the area," Brooks said.
> >
> > ©The Trentonian 2004
I plan on attending the second meeting tonight.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
7PM - 9PM
Lower Makefield Township Building
1100 Edgewood Road
Yardley, PA 19067-1689
From I-95:
Exit 31 towards Yardley (Exit 31A from I-95 NORTH)
After 1.1 miles, turn right on West Afton Avenue/PA 332
After 0.4 miles, turn left on Sandy Run Road
After 1.1 miles, turn left on Edgewood Road
http://www.scudderfallsbridge.com
=====
Raymond C. Martin, Jr.
Associate Meteorologist, AccuWeather Inc.- http://www.accuweather.com/
New Jersey Expressways and Tollways - http://www.njfreeways.com/
Ray's Winter Storm Archive - http://www.njfreeways.com/weather/