Stahl seeks new design for Rt. 18/1 interchange

EAST BRUNSWICK — Mayor David Stahl wants to see the state improve the Route 1/Route 18 interchange, which he said is not only dangerous but also backing traffic up in East Brunswick.

Stahl said he recently met with the state Department of Transportation as well as state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) to discuss the problem.

"We discussed some issues with the Route 1 and Route 18 interchange and how it's important for the state to improve the interchange," he said. "We in East Brunswick are feeling the pain, so this should be of high-level importance."

During rush hour, especially in the morning, drivers heading north on Route 18 encounter a problem when they reach the area of Naricon Place and the Hilton, Stahl said. As drivers come off the New Jersey Turnpike, it causes other northbound cars on Route 18 to have to cut across lanes. This can result in drivers scrambling to get in the right lanes to stay on Route 18, competing with cars bound for Route 1.

Stahl also noted that drivers heading north on Route 18 have a very short timeframe to decide whether to continue on Route 18 north or go onto Route 1 north and get in the appropriate lanes.

"You have a short road span to make decisions on how traffic will flow," Stahl said. "It is a difficult area to travel due to the design."

Stahl said the area of the interchange also results in traffic backups into East Brunswick, and he wants the state to conduct a study on how to improve the design.

"Our commuters get stuck in this," he said. "I want to get it higher up on the priority list for the state projects."

Councilman Matthew Korten agreed that the area of the interchange creates the potential for car accidents.

"You have to be a very careful driver in that area," Korten said.