Monmouth County May Build Traffic Circle In Holmdel

HOLMDEL, NJ — The intersection of Holmdel Road, North Beers Street and Crape Myrtle Drive in Holmdel may be converted into a circle, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders announced Monday.

In fact, Monmouth County received $1.2 million in federal funding from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority on Jan. 22, which will go towards exploring the feasibility of creating a circle there, said Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone.

Arnone represents Monmouth County on the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees.

There is currently a two-way stop sign at that intersection. But the Federal Highway Administration says modern roundabouts are much safer than stop signs, with the potential to reduce severe crashes by 82 percent compared to two-way stop controlled intersections.

"There have been accidents there," said Holmdel Township Committeeman Greg Buontempo. "Bayshore Hospital is also getting more traffic since Meridian took over operations. I knew there was concern about that intersection and the county was reviewing potential options."

If a roundabout is not feasible, another option is converting it to a signalized intersection, Arnone said.

“(It's) an intersection with a history of unsatisfactory performance," Arnone said in a statement.

Stage Coach Road in Upper Freehold is also getting $2.9 million from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board for a range of safety improvements, including application of high-friction surface treatment, safety edging (to minimize vertical drop-off and allow motorists to safely reenter the paved road), centerline rumble strips, raised pavement markers, safety striping and signage to warn of curves.

Photo: The intersection of Holmdel Rd., North Beers Street and Crape Myrtle Drive pictured above via Google Earth.