Traffic Light Has Been a Long Time Coming

It's taken nearly 10 years, but a traffic light has finally been installed at Route 15 South and Bowling Green Parkway/Swan Lane in Lake Hopatcong.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the light will be up and running early in the new year.

Jefferson Police Captain Eric Wilsusen said the request for a light goes to the state from the mayor and council, who made the request through State Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-NJ) almost a decade ago. Bucco represents Jefferson's district.

"After that request, the schedule becomes completely the state's responsibility," Wilsusen said. "The state has to figure out where it stands on the priority list."

According to Timothy Greeley, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the light is very close to being ready to go.

"All the underground and above-ground electrical has been run," he said. "Now we are waiting for the electric company to come in and splice the wires. Also, some additional line striping needs to be done on the road. We expect that will happen  and the light will be ready to go in early in January."

The state paid the nearly $150,000 bill for the traffic signal's installation.

Wilsusen said he believes that the traffic signal is long overdue at the intersection.

"Many of these roads were designed for the traffic flow of the 1970s, but things have changed a lot since then," Wilsusen said. "Rush hour now extends for a good part of the day. Crossing Route 15 at that intersection has become particularly hazardous. But more people try to do it now, because of Lakeside Field and the Water Village development back in there."