Highlands and Sea Bright officials don’t favor DOT plans to install signs that hang over the Route 36 bridge, shown here in November. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
It wasn’t that long ago that advocates of keeping that troublesome bridge that once linked Sea Bright to Highlands pooh-poohed the idea of constructing a new, larger once because it didn’t fit in with the landscape of the area.
Now, that the new Route 36 bridge is kind of here — the Sea Bright-to-Highlands section is complete, with the rest targeted to be done in 2011 — officials are echoing that old cry, with a plea to halt signs the state Department of Transportation intends to install, saying that they’re more useful for the Garden State Parkway or New Jersey Turnpike.
Referred to by traffic engineers as ‘cantilever signs,’ they’re usually shamrock green, reflective and hang over the roadway indicating what towns and traffic routes lie ahead. Also: big.
The Highlands Borough Council logged the first complaint about the proposed signage at a meeting with DOT officials (from which you can see in the minutes on Sea Bright’s website) and is sending a letter to the agency expressing how turned off it is by the notion of the signs hanging over the bridge.
Sea Bright, in turn, is getting behind its neighbors by sending its own letter, and town officials hope to have a sit-down with DOT officials to sway its decision to a something more view-friendly.
“Highlands feels (the signs) are better suited for the Turnpike and Parkway,” Sea Bright Council President William Keeler explained. “They feel if you’re driving over the bridge it’s going to impede the view.”
The DOT is planning to install two of these hulking signs on each side of the bridge, to read “Rt. 36 South/Sea Bright” and “Sandy Hook” when approaching from the north, and “Route 36 West/Keyport” and “Bay Avenue/Highlands” when coming from the south.
Keeler said Sea Bright and Highlands would both prefer something more modest, and rather than have the signs blocking out the Atlantic Ocean or the hilly vista of Highlands, signs installed on the sides of the bridge would be more satisfying.
In related bridge news, the pedestrian path is set to be open by the end of the month, Keeler said. Also, the old bridge is scheduled to be demolished next week.
Destroy the view? But wait a minute, aren’t you supposed to be focused on driving when crossing the bridge? What does a view matter? Oh wait a minute, this is NJ, the land of drivers doing everything while driving (texting, eating, etc.) EXCEPT driving their cars. Never mind.
Isn’t the speed limit 35 mph there? And that’s when the traffic is moving at all. Why would we need a giant eyesore designed for cars approaching at more then double the speed? How’s about painting the words on some surfboards and hanging them on the pedestrian walkway. That would look cool!
seriously, its not like this is going to be a wildly complicated intersection of roads. How difficult is it to put up a small sign that says 36 south or 36 north? DOT needs an enema. These are the same gifted rocks who gave us the “new and improved” Hwy 35/rt520 intersection and now the white street clog……bureaucracy in action and your tax dollars at work.
DOT answers to no one. When there were complaints about the hours at which the construction was being performed(night) by local residents, DOT said too bad.
Dooper, I don’t think they are worried about the drivers view. There are a lot of residents on the hillside there who at one time had a nice view….until now anyway.
It’s a story like this that reminds us how wasteful government can be. Not that we need to create another government job in this State, but how about independent “Fat Trimming Czar?” - I am not talking about the likes of Richard Simmons. He or she could look at government spending plans across all agencies and with a big fat Sharpie circle obvious cost savings opportunities. The saved money should be put into a tax payer relief pool. Agency heads who have too many bright circles on their spending plans should be relieved. Change the culture.
Joe, so is the price of progress. I have family living on the ‘hill there on 36 since 1936. When she first moved there, she had a great view of NYC. Then in the 70’s some rich person put up a tall town house behind her…gone was the NYC view.
So is the price of progress.
Small little 36 signs for us who drive the area every day may be just fine….but remember all the Benny’s coming down here all the time, who have zero clue where they are going. Maybe some big signs might save a traffic accident, just maybe. Not holding my breath though.
Besides, all that, the whole damn new bridge complex with the ped walkways is butt ugly anyway, so what’s the difference of a few big green signs at this point?
And bridge view aside, you have to admit my comment about NJ drivers is valid. You know I saw a woman eating a corn on the cob last summer as she drove, rather swerved her way up Route 18 in Tinton Falls. Funny, yes, but scary.
Doops, my favorite was a guy shaving while talking on the cell phone…with a lit cigarette hanging off his lip. Spiffy car though, so I’m sure no flat footer would even dare to cite.
Sea Bright hasn’t ‘nixed’ anything. They’ll politely request that these huge Benny patronizing signs not be used, and the DOT will politely do whatever the hell it wants.
Before moving to Red Bank I lived on that hill for 3 years. View was great. I would never want to look at that ugly mess that is there now. Those giant green turnpike signs are not necessary, in my opinion.
And if a few bennies crash into each other while trying to get on Sandy Hook. I really don’t care. Sorry.
That’s assuming they crash into each other, not one of us.
SB Residents:
I’m an outside agitator from RB.
I should have something better to do but I’m going to butt into your business anyway.
Are there any SB residents who worry that your Mayor & Council don’t seem capable of anything but letters of protest and non-binding ballot resolutions?
They fought DOT on the replacement of the bridge and lost.
If DOT could demolish the bridge despite SB’s objections do you think fighting them on the size of the signs is doing you any good?
All this while you’re paying about $80k for every SB HS student you send to Shore Regional.
I’ve never heard any SB Council or BOE Member even suggest the possibility of trying to find a way to educate your own students.
I’m sure it would not be easy with your small size and lack of floor space for classrooms.
But there has to be someone in SB who can get elected on a platform of finding a way SB taking control of their own destiny.
Kevin, do we in RB control our own destiny?
Nemo,
Yes we do!
I know you’ve talking about moving because the RB Pols have been ignoring you.
SB seems like a better fit for you!
…actually it was the RB Czechs, not the RB Pols, who were ignoring me, but we’ve agreed to disagree, and anyway the Czechs all went their own ways few years ago, so it’s a non-starter.