A pedestrian crossing island installed without Township approval, was removed by the County over Shabbos.

On the first days of Pesach, the County installed the crossing as part of their Ridge Avenue project – which is installing sidewalks and curbs along a stretch of Ridge Avenue. The project was first announced on TLS here.

However, unbeknownst to the Township and any local residents, Township officials told TLS exclusively that the County only approved the engineering plans if a pedestrian crossing could be installed – apparently to help the residents on either side of Ridge cross over the road – connecting to their newly-installed sidewalks on the south side. But, the crossing island – which never received final approval by the Township – was placed on a curve of a fast-driven road, making it unsafe for pedestrians to attempt to cross the road at that spot.

Additionally, local residents explained to the Township, that if anything at all, the island should have been installed further west, where the road is straight and doesn’t pose a serious safety risk to the pedestrians from the vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed around the bend in the road. The speed limit on the road – which has multiple schools and many students walking the road daily – is 45 MPH.

On Chol Hamoed, after numerous residents reached out to TLS about it, TLS contacted Township officials inquiring about it. They knew nothing about it.

In response, the Township told TLS last week that the Township has requested its removal, and will be discussing other options to help make the road safer for the many Lakewood High School, Middle School students and Yeshiva Bachurim who walk the road daily, as well as for the children who get on and off buses at the intersection.