The Mercer County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has completed several traffic improvements on Bear Tavern Road (County Route 579) in Ewing Township aimed at improving safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced.
I’m happy to report that the Mercer County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure – Traffic Division on Dec. 2 officially activated the new traffic signal at the intersection of Bear Tavern Road (County Route 579) and Mountainview Road, an important project that aims to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
On Dec. 2, Mercer County’s Traffic Division officially activated the new traffic signal at the intersection of Bear Tavern Road and Mountainview Road. The new signal was originally requested by Ewing Township in 2019, the County Executive said, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting supply chain shortages the project was delayed.
In addition to a signal, state-of-the-art equipment was installed, too, such as radar detection (for vehicles and bicyclists), audible push-button system (for pedestrians), GPS time clocks (to maintain timing and coordination) and other equipment.
County Executive Hughes said the project was a collaborative effort between multiple parties within the County and outside agencies. Design was completed by both the Mercer County Engineering Department and Arora and Associates. Construction of the intersection was completed by Mercer County’s Traffic Division and Orchard Holdings, LLC, which did the underground electric. All traffic signal equipment was purchased from Signal Control Products, LLC through an ongoing equipment contract.
Farther down the road at the intersection of Bear Tavern Road and Scenic Drive, the County has also upgraded the existing traffic signal equipment, County Executive Hughes said. Improvements such as a dedicated left-turn lane at all approaches and resulting four-section traffic signal with left-turn arrow have been installed. Additionally, like the Bear Tavern and Mountainview intersection, radar detection, audible push-button system and GPS time clocks were installed at this location.
Lastly, to complete the corridor the County recently resurfaced Bear Tavern Road from the intersection of Scenic Drive in Ewing to Maddock Road in Hopewell Township, County Executive Hughes said. After the paving was completed, Zone Striping, LLC replenished the striping and pavement marking on the road with high visibility and long-life epoxy paint. At this time the travel lanes were narrowed to 11 feet wide, providing an opportunity to install bike lanes on the road, one of the most frequent requests to the County, according to the County Executive.