Writer fears trouble spot will lead to serious accident

I am concerned about what I perceive to be a serious road problem on Sweet-mans Lane (Route 527) in Manalapan. My concern is that this will some day either cost someone’s life or cause serious bodily injury.

I have written to the Safety Engineering Division of Monmouth County twice concerning this matter and am greatly relieved to learn that an investigation was recently conducted in response to my latest inquiry.

I cringe every time I drive past Millhurst Pond, heading south toward Millstone Township. Just after passing Millhurst Mills Home Improvement Center on your left, one passes over a little bridge and continues around the turn and up the incline.

There is a double yellow line in the center of the road at this point. The cars heading north, coming down the incline, often round the turn (which has a posted speed limit of 35 mph) well across the center line — sometimes by as much as 2 or 3 feet. The southbound cars coming around the turn and going up the incline have precious little room to bear to the right to avoid a head-on collision.

To make matters worse, there is a telephone pole at this spot very close to the road. This pole severely limits the ability of the driver of the southbound car, as he rounds the curve and approaches the incline, to swerve to the right to avoid a northbound car that crosses over the center line. The icy conditions that exist at this time of year further complicate matters.

I fear that it is just a matter of time before something dreadful happens at this location. I am hopeful that the road engineers can figure something out to make this location safer than it currently appears to be. Perhaps I am not the only one who has experienced close calls at this spot. Have you?

John Rymas

Manalapan