Project will shut down Route 522 intersection
Manalapan mayor: County set to go at Tennent Road
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Construction projects will lead to road closings and other changes in Manal-apan during the coming weeks.

Manalapan Mayor Bill Scherer said Monmouth County officials have notified the township that a project to widen the intersection of Route 522 (Freehold-Englishtown Road) and Tennent Road is in progress and the county expects to close the roads in and around the vicinity of the project during the second and third weeks of August.

“Police have been provided with a detailed plan from the county, which will be put in place during the closing of the intersection,” Scherer said.

The repaving of Church Lane will also take place during the next few weeks and prior to the start of the school year. Police officers will be directing traffic in the area while the project is taking place.

“Drive carefully, follow signs and police directions,” the mayor said.

Scherer said discussions with Police Chief Stuart Brown regarding the feasibility of making Church Lane a two-way road on its entire length will take place.

Years ago, Church Lane was a two-way road for its entire length between Tennent Road and Route 522. Vehicles could enter the street from Tennent Road or from Route 522.

Church Lane was then changed to a two-way road between Tennent Road and Manalapan High School and a one-way road from the high school to Route 522. Access to Church Lane is not permitted from Route 522.

Changing Church Lane back to a two-way road on its entire length “is a great plan once the improvements are put in place,” Brown said.

“I think it makes sense,” said Scherer. “Instead of [taking Route 522 to Tennent Road, to Church Lane], things may be changing with the new [improvements.] It could help the residents and the traffic in town.”

Brown said the reopening of the Church Lane access from Route 522 would relieve congestion at the intersection of Route 522 and Tennent Road in the morning and afternoon when high school students and staff members are arriving at and leaving the school.

In other business, Scherer has asked Business Administrator Alayne Shepler to look into the possibility of obtaining funding and/or grants for the completion of a sidewalk along Taylor Mills Road north of Elliot Road and up to Conmack Lane.

“Kids could [then] go on their bikes to the rec center,” said the mayor.

“I think it should be done,” Brown agreed. “Then there will be sidewalks all the way up to the Taylor Mills Road-Route 522 intersection.”