Township Projects
Route 94 / Sand Hill Rd Intersection Updates

November 1 , 2006
Traffic signal at Church Street
This project has started, and is expected to be finished in December 2006. A new traffic signal is being installed at the intersection of Church Street and Route 94. Most of the underground electric conduit has been installed, and the poles will be installed in November. The roadway will not be closed, however, there will be a need to close one lane to traffic on occasion. Police traffic directors will be on-site when a lane closure is necessary.

Route 94 Drainage Improvements
This project is presently under construction, and will continue into December 2006. New storm drains are being installed along Route 94 in the vicinity of the Dairy Queen. A large culvert is being replaced under the roadway. NJDOT has indicated that when the culvert is replaced, the work will be continuous shifts around the clock, over the course of a weekend. NJDOT indicated this will likely occur in November. The roadway will not be closed, however, there will be a need to close one lane to traffic during most of the project. Police traffic directors will be on-site when a lane closure is necessary.

Route 94/SandHill Road Improvements
Preliminary utility and preparation work has been started on this project, however, the main construction work will be in the spring and summer of 2007. The expected end of construction is September 2007. This project consists of the widening of Route 94 in the vicinity of Sandhill Road and the Appalachian Lodge, the installation of utilities, the installation of a traffic signal, and the installation of a sewer line on Route 94 and on Sandhill Road. The sewer line will extend past the ski area parking lot on Sandhill Road. The roadway will not be closed, however, there will be a need to close one lane to traffic during much of the project. Police traffic directors will be on-site when a lane closure is necessary.

Mountain Creek will be installing the sewer line on Sandhill Road. Since the line is in the center of the road, keeping the road open will difficult. The applicant is reportedly going to submit an application to close the road during the night for night-time construction. This has not been reviewed or approved by the Township at this time.

This information is based on the latest available data from the Contractors and the NJDOT, and is subject to change based on weather and site conditions.

October 16, 2006 - FAQ
Q. Why are we doing the project?
A. To improve safety issues on Route 94 at the Sand Hill Road intersection. This project is needed to improve the safety of the traveling public through the existing unsignalized intersection at Route 94 and Sand Hill Road. Current accident data reveals that the actual crash rate is four times greater than the state wide crash rate for this type of cross section. The main problem at this intersection is the inability for vehicles to safely turn left onto Sand Hill Road from Route 94 eastbound. This has resulted in numerous rear end collisions to stopped vehicles waiting to turn left from Route 94 eastbound. Also, there is substandard sight distance near the Pedestrian Bridge located east of the intersection as a result of the combination of steep grade and horizontal curvature of Route 94.

Q. What is the proposed project improvement?
A. We are installing a new traffic signal and designating turn lanes on Route 94 at the intersection with Sand Hill Road. We will also be improving the under-clearance problems under the Pedestrian Bridge. The proposed improvements will include a signalized intersection with designated left and through lanes on the eastbound approach; designated right and through lanes on t he westbound approach; and a left turn lane and a right-turn lane on Sand Hill Road. In addition to the signalization of the intersection, horizontal and vertical sight distance improvements are proposed along Route 94 just east of the Pedestrian Bridge. The existing corrugated metal culvert just west of the intersection will be replaced with a new concrete culvert to accommodate the widened roadway at the intersection. The vertical clearance under the Pedestrian Bridge was also improved to meet the current NJDOT standard of 17 foot 6 inches.

Q. Will this work be done at night?
A. No. There is no planned night work involved in this construction.

Q. Will there be any detours?
A. No detours are required. However, there may be some minor traffic impacts. We are going to attempt to maintain two lanes of traffic on Route 94. However, the contractor does have the option of using alternating traffic patterns on an “as needed basis”.

Q. When will the construction begin and end?
A. Construction is anticipated to begin the week of October 16, 2006. The substantial completion date for the project is August 27, 2007 and the final completion date is October 22, 2007.

Q. Will there be any other work going on at that time?
A. Mountain Creek has its own sanitary sewer line installation project on Sand Hill Road that will run concurrently with the Department’s project. However, their project is totally separate from the Department’s. Therefore if there are any questions regarding the Mountain Creek project they are to call Vernon Township (973) 764-4055 x 2222

Q. Any Environmental Impacts?
A. Cultural resources surveys were performed for this project’s Area of Potential Effects in June 2005 and will be reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The entire project was examined by persons qualified to conduct Section 106 evaluations (i.e. those persons meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards). In the northeast quadrant of the project area lies the Stewart house, a resource eligible for listing on the National Register for architecture and archeology. The project, as proposed, will have No Adverse Effect to the Stewart House; however, the project will have an Adverse Effect on the archeological component of the property. Data recovery was recently completed at the Stewart House site (28Sx247). The Sand Hills Site (28Sx426) lies outside of the northwest quadrant of the currently proposed project. The Sand Hills Site, another archeological site identified during the survey, has been badly affected by historic land use, first by plowing and later by construction of a parking lot; the project as proposed will have No Effect to the Sand Hill Site.

All necessary permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection have been obtained for the project.

Q. For additional information, who do I contact?
A. Deborah Hirt, Regional Manager
Office of Community Relations
New Jersey Department of Transportation
1035 Parkway Avenue P.O. Box 600
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
(609) 530-2110
Deborah.Hirt@dot.state.nj.us