Committee 'Pushing' for Permanent Dead-End on Maple Ave.

Temporary barricades have been in place on Maple Avenue, in Pine Brook, for more than a week now. But the township committee has pledged a promise to work toward a permanent solution to dead-ending the road.

"Every single week, we have to keep pushing," Committeeman Scott Gallopo said at the July 10 meeting.

Gallopo said he wanted to ensure that the committee continues to move forward on the project and not let it fall by the wayside.

The township to a traffic issue residents were experiencing where motorists were traveling at allegedly high speeds to cut through the neighborhood between Route 80 and Route 46. to the committee by then-Township Engineer Tony Barile in March which led to the recommendation for the barriers.

In June, the committee voted to approve dead-ending the road, with the decision.

Township Administrator Victor Canning said at the July 10 meeting that the township is still attempting to speak with two property owners whose properties would be affected by the permanent cul-de-sac. He did not have an update on progress with those conversations.

Mayor Tim Braden, who has promised the residents of the neighborhood who were concerned about the barricades that the committee would continue to pursue permanent options, said the township could begin looking at engineering for the project.

"I would think that, at this point, there would be nothing holding us up from doing the engineering on the cul-de-sac," he said.

The committee will continue to discuss a permanent dead-end solution for Maple Avenue at its August meeting.