“All I want is for the public to be safe!” said Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon after another sunshine-filled weekend had traffic heading to Sandy Hook backed up to Buttermilk Valley. Add to that the motorists driving in the left lane jockeying for position in the right lane so they could “get ahead” of the crowd going into Sandy Hook who create another level of possible accidents and resultant added problems for not only Highlands residents but motorists and beach goers as well.
Still, no one responds to the Mayor’s frequent and consistent pleas for help from every level, from Congressman Frank Pallone down to residents who complain about the traffic problems but have not done anything to show officials their concerns.
Even the Mayor’s suggestions for how to ease the problem that has affected the borough for years have been ignored.
Broullon re-issued a statement to the public at the beginning of summer, suggesting that residents write their elected officials to let them know that the primary reason for the highway blockage, sometimes as far as The Care One Nursing Home, because of beach goers having to pay for parking at Sandy Hook as they enter the park, just off the Captain Joseph Azzolina Bridge.
She has suggested in the past, and reiterated this week, that the park could ease the present situation simply by having motorists pay for parking as they leave the beach, a system which would spreading out the flow of the thousands of people who go to Sandy Hook for its three life guarded beaches.
Other suggestions have included setting up the payment booths or a gate at the beach parking lots, since that is the only area where fees are charged, or maintaining one payment booth for those with annual passes or simply entry to other areas of Sandy Hook where parking fees are not charged.
Broullon has written her ideas to the National Park Service. She hasn’t “heard a peep.
She’s written to Congressman Frank Pallone, asking for help. He told her he was going to speak to the Park Service about the situation. She hasn’t heard anything since.
Nor has she heard anything from the Monmouth County Commissioners.
Bay Avenue, the main street through the Borough is heavily impacted by ‘knowing beach goers who take the Linden Avenue jug handle off Route 36 and go through town to come up under the bridge and squeeze into the traffic line at the Bridge. Both Linden Avenue and Bay Avenue are county roads.
Another headache for borough residents is the traffic delays and tie-ups on Highland Avenue as well as Miller Street. Motorists will turn into Valley Avenue from Route 36, then turn onto Highland Avenue east to Portland Road, hoping to squeeze into the bridge traffic at that point. That creates tie-ups at that intersection, with vehicles coming up from under the bridge, coming off Portland road and Highland Avenue, many heading for the bridge, but others seeking to make turns onto either Portland Road or Highland Ave. Sunday mornings add churchgoers Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Route 36 into the mix.
This past Sunday, traffic was backed up to the Buttermilk Valley traffic light by CVS Pharmacy both in the morning and in the early afternoon and early evening as well.
“With only three beaches having guards, the park fills up faster and leaves motorists clogging the roads longer,” the mayor said., “ If they just let everyone in then had them pay as they leave, it would make the flow a lot better.”
In the meantime, Highlands police are on the main roads ensuring traffic moves as quickly as possible and frustrated drivers do not do anything foolish. First Aid volunteers in the borough man the station and keep their vehicles ready for emergency calls to ensure the best use of time while encountering traffic.
The Mayor remains frustrated by the lack of attention to what she considers primarily as a safety issue. After her pleas and suggestions not only this year but in previous years still unresolved, “ I feel that we have to wait until something terrible happens for anyone to actively address this situation, unfortunately.”
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