Crime & Safety

Concerns Escalate Over Eyesore on Route 17

Unmaintained water basin now has a broken fence on top of the overgrown trees and weeds.

Officials continue to call the state Department of Transportation's water basin at the base of Route 17 and Franklin Avenue an "unsightly eyesore"  as maintenance from the state continues to be scarce.

According to Borough Engingeer Ken Job, the site has not been maintained regularly despite the state's promise when it decided to convert the traffic island into a water basin about three years ago.

In recent weeks officials discovered part of the fence has been broken off, likely struck by a vehicle coming off the highway, they said. 

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"Anyone can go walk right in. It's really dangerous," said Councilwoman Sonya Buckman as officials discussed the situation during a work session meeting last week.

The fenced in basin is designed to collect water at the site. Over the past few years the state has addressed the borough's concerns about the basin's drainage system which has since been improved. However Job has said overgrowth of vegetation could eventually clog the drain causing water to overflow. Lack of maintenance continues to be an issue, according to borough officials.

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Police Chief Michael Colaneri said he would once again have the traffic officers contact the DOT about the broken fence.

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