Completion of Route 55

To the Editor: 
In response to Al Campbell’s Feb. 1 article, “Thornton: We Are ‘Endangered Species’ On Antiquated Area Highways,” Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton was “spot on.” 
It has become a reality that our roadways are way too antiquated to handle our influx of traffic during the seasonal periods. They are also insufficient as a gateway to our neighboring counties.
Alluding to Thornton’s concerns about the safety of the people, whether year-round residents or visitors, it has become abundantly clear that the intensity of our storms has significantly increased over the past few years. I think it is safe to say that this is a byproduct of global warming. I have seen numerous documentaries of the cause and effects of how just one degree in average global temperature can change our climate. It is scary to think about the disastrous speculations scientists have about what effects a two- to three-degree increase in global temperature would have on all of us.
Our state Department of Transportation has a responsibility to protect every citizen regardless of the year-round population of our county. Our year-round population is about 94,700, with an influx in prime season as high as 450,000 people, which is the population of Burlington County, ranked 11th in the state in population.
What will it take for Route 55 to be completed – several hundred dying in a flash flood from a hurricane or violent nor’easter? It is incumbent on us that we continue to forge ahead and find a way to make sure that state highway Routes 47 and 55 get completed to avoid what could be a terrible disaster!
There is also a very significant factor that can happen economically for this county of declining population. The 2000 census put us at a population of 102,326. In 2010 it was 97,265, and as of 2015 it was 94,727. It is the long-term economic effect that would greatly benefit from the completion of state highways 47 and 55. Our county could ultimately become a suburban community because of the enhanced accessibility from here to Philadelphia and the counties in between. Many people who have secondary homes and reside year-round elsewhere could find the commuting distance much easier and quicker, which may entice them to reside here full time. It would open doors for jobs and commerce on both ends of the highways, allowing for both population and true economic growth.
I have always thought that if the eye of Hurricane Sandy was 30 miles south of us, not only would it have killed many people here, it probably would have destroyed our economy. Hence, both the safety of the people and the long-term success of our economy in this beautiful county would greatly benefit from what has been pending for way too long.
Thank you, Thornton, as well as the whole freeholder board, for your efforts in trying to make the completion of Route 55 a reality.