MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – Cape May County will be installing overhead flashing caution lights at the intersection of Court House South Dennis Road and Swainton Goshen Road, according to a press release issued by the township.
The plan calls for a pair of signal heads facing each direction of travel, with the flashing red signal facing Swainton Goshen Road and the flashing yellow signal facing Court House South Dennis Road. Both roads are operated and maintained by the county.
The plan also calls for the closure of the passing zone for southbound Court House South Dennis Road (CR 657) traffic leaving the intersection, and the addition of new traffic striping and markings.
“As a Middle Township resident, I’ve heard safety concerns related to this intersection for several years,” county Commissioner Melanie Collette said, according to the release. “When I joined the county commission in January and met with Middle Township Mayor (Christopher) Leusner, these concerns were high on our shared list of priorities.”
The township Police Department responds to several motor vehicle accidents each year at the intersection, the release said. Court House South Dennis Road is a major route to the barrier islands in the summer season. Swainton Goshen Road has seen significant residential development in recent years and provides access to two large seasonal camping resorts.
Over the past six years, the county has made several traffic-calming upgrades along the approaches to the intersection, including:
- Closing the approach passing zones to the north along CR 657.
- Adding center-line rumble strips and reflectors along CR 657.
- Doubling up the road warning signs and installing radar-activated flashing stop signs along Swainton Goshen Road.
- Installing approach rumble strip arrays and warning text along both roads.
- Adding radar feedback signs along CR 657.
- Clearing trees at the intersection to improve sight lines.
- Advising motorists to turn headlights on approaching the intersection.
- Making speed surveys and traffic counts.
“Regrettably, these prior measures have not changed all drivers’ behavior approaching the intersection, and traffic calming still remains an issue,” county Commission Director Len Desiderio said.
“The addition of these overhead caution lights, traffic-calming striping and supplemental road markings should further enhance the safety of the intersection.”
County Engineer Robert Church said the latest improvements were part of an interim plan to improve the safety of the intersection in the near term. The county’s long-term and permanent improvement plan is to evaluate the design and construct a roundabout at the intersection.
