Full Road Closures On Moorestown's Main Street? Wrong-Way Drivers Might Prompt The Change

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Full road closures may be instituted on Moorestown's Main Street as brazen driving near construction crews raises concerns among township officials.

Since work began in February to replace the township's century-old water main, there have been partial closures at work zones. Up to this point, the eastbound lane has remained open.

But that could change, as too many motorists have been disobeying signs and driving the wrong way up the open lane, according to Township Manager Kevin E. Aberant.

"It's creating a dangerous situation," Aberant said at Monday's Township Council meeting. "The contractor's been very accomodating, keeping all eastbound traffic open. But because that lane is left open, I think it's sort of emboldening some people."

The project is expected to last through much of the calendar year, impacting different stretches of the roadway at different times. This week, crews are working along Kings Highway between Pleasant Valley Avenue and Camden Avenue.

But as the work moves further east into a more congested area, concerns about the wrong-way driving have grown.

The contractor is willing to keep the eastbound lane open for now. But if the trend continues, Aberant says he'll support full road closures.

"If you see language in Moore News that's a little more draconian as to the closure, that is the reason for it," Aberant said, referring to the township's newsletter with project updates.

Several council members expressed support for stricter policing in the area and ticketing wrong-way drivers.

Most of the time, the wrong-way driving isn't an innocent mistake, said Council Member James Barry.

"I think the majority of people driving the wrong way, especially those driving faster as they go the wrong way, are just being entitled lunatics," Barry said. "And there's no sense in accommodating any of that behavior."