PETERSBURG — Students should be safer traveling to Upper Township’s primary and elementary schools when they return following summer break.
Consulting engineer Zachary Jordan of CME Associates outlined enhancements planned around the schools during an information session March 2 at Township Hall.
Township Committee received a $925,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to Schools Program in July 2024 to fund the work, which will consist of sidewalk and bike lane improvements. The grant will pay for the entire project.
Superintendent Allison Pessolano said the district is excited to partner with the township on the initiative.
“There are limited walking and biking routes in the township that allow our students to travel to school safely. This project will increase those safe routes for our students and their family members who may walk or bike to school with them,” she said.
Pessolano said the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks and street crossing signals will increase safety for students and community members.
As a girl growing up in the township, Pessolano said her mother made her take “very circuitous routes” to avoid the more dangerous roads.
“I am excited that the development of these safe routes is beginning,” she said. “Right now, the work is limited to the primary and elementary schools, but we hope at some point similar access will be created for other parts of the township.”
There will be two projects areas: St. George Place to Harbor Road on North Shore Road and St. Andrews Place to North Shore Road on Old Tuckahoe Road.
A map showing current conditions noted the lack of crosswalks and curb ramps at five locations and the total lack of pedestrian access at two others, as well as the absence of a bicycle lane.
Work will add crosswalks and ramps at Old Tuckahoe Road, Redwish Avenue, Teal Lane, Lenape Lane and Seaview Avenue, and new sidewalks will link with the existing ones to create a continuous path. Two solar-powered flashing beacons will be added to the crosswalk at Seaview Avenue and North Shore Road.
In addition, an on-street bike lane is proposed the length of North Shore Road from the school complex to Beesley’s Point Park along Great Egg Harbor Bay, where it connects with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority path along the Garden State Parkway bridge to Somers Point.
The next steps are to finalize designs and solicit bids for the project, award a contract and undertake construction. Work is expected to take about two months.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff