Lighting the way
By JENNIFER KELLEY
Cherry Hill Sun
8/9/2007

County says light-retiming project along Route 561 to be completed by fall

The Camden County Department of Public Works commenced construction on its first light-retiming project in the region last week along Route 561. Between adjusting the traffic signals at each of the six intersections that punctuate the roadway and upgrades to its miles of curb, by fall – when the project is set to be compete – motorists and pedestrians should have a much easier time navigating one of Cherry Hill’s main arteries, according to county and township officials.

Crews will work on the project from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday for the next two months, with several minor single lane shutdowns around the proximity of each traffic light expected, officials said. The scope of the endeavor will stretch from Uxbridge Drive to Walt Whitman Boulevard.

While most of the work will be done off the highway, drivers can expect intermittent delays as several traffic lights are replaced and crews park utility trucks in the roadway, said Lt. Bill Kushina, spokesman for the township’s police department.

But overall, he noted, there will be minimal disruption to people’s daily commutes, with construction workers starting after each day’s morning rush hour and completing their work before evening rush hour kicks off.

The $950,000 project was funded by a grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, obtained from the federal government at the county’s request, said Camden County Freeholder Rodney Greco. Beside occasional maintenance costs in the future, it won’t cost township or county taxpayers anything, he added.

Studies began on the corridor’s traffic patterns in 2003, amid concerns from constituents about the narrow, roadway’s perpetual congestion. With so many Cherry Hill residents and outside motorists taking it through the township, it was a priority for the county, Greco told The Sun.

The studies determined what times of day Route 561 was busiest, and in what direction, and the new traffic light times will reflect the findings.

“The lights will be programmed so that if motorists are traveling at a reasonable speed, they’ll flow with traffic through each intersection without stopping,” Greco said. “If you’re going well over the speed limit, however, you may start hitting red lights.”

According to officials, in the case of an emergency or event that utilizes the roadway, the Cherry Hill Police Department will have the ability to override the lights’ new programming.

“This is a great opportunity for technology to have a hand in guiding traffic so it moves more quickly and safely,” Greco noted.

Mayor Bernie Platt, who welcomed the project, said improving the roadway has been a priority of his administration as well.

“I’m happy to see this project move forward and to have our traffic lights working in harmony, so motorists can move more efficiently through the township,” he said after reviewing the plans for the project. “I do a lot of driving through Cherry Hill, and I know this enhancement will make an overall improvement to our roadways.”

In conjunction with the synchronization of traffic lights, Camden County will be upgrading curb appeal and sidewalk accessibility for the disabled at the six intersections involved in the project. New curb cuts and concrete work will be performed to make all curbs ADA-compliant, Greco said, noting that they will provide access and entranceways for the disabled where they’re needed.