Town Reaches Tentative Agreement for NJ Turnpike Sound Wall

After months of negotiations, weary residents of East Brunswick's Lawrence Brook neighborhood may finally find some relief from the noise pollution of the ongoing Exit 9 expansion project.

Mayor David Stahl announced at Monday's Township Council meeting a deal to construct a sound wall that will provide a buffer for residents of Lawrence Brook from the issues that have arisen as a result of the project.

"I'm very pleased to announce tonight, that after months of working with representatives of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, that we've reached a tentative agreement to construct a sound wall barrier to better protect the Lawrence Brook neighborhood," Stahl said during the meeting.

Residents of Lawrence Brook previously asked the Turnpike Authority during a public meeting in August to build a barrier wall between their properties and the roadway. Concerns exist over a potential drop in the value of homes due to the increased noise from traffic and construction, concerns for possible structural damage from the constant vibration, and safety issues.

In June, the Turnpike Authority halted construction at Westons Mill Road for a few weeks while a study was conducted on the effect of vibrations generated by the construction on nearby homes.

The Exit 9 expansion project includes widening the ramp that connects Route 18 southbound and the turnpike to two lanes, and improving the exit ramp merging onto Route 18 north. Turnpike officials have said the Exit 9 project is vital for operational and safety improvements to deal with a high volume of traffic entering and exiting the toll plaza. 

Mayor Stahl said in reaching the agreement they utilized data from a sound study, along with input from residents affected by the project.

"We all know the Turnpike has rigid standards on how to make the determination on whether a wall will be constructed or not," he said during the meeting.

Stahl noted the agreement involves a creative plan for cost sharing the project between the township and the NJ Turnpike Authority. The exact details of how much of the cost will be borne by each entity remains to be ironed out, he said.

The exact details of the plan will come back to the council for discussion in the weeks ahead, as the authority will also return to a future meeting with plans for the wall and landscaping. 

"I appreciate the community's passion in aiding me to get this project done, and I appreciate your patience," Stahl added.