$1.25M Intersection Overhaul Needed if UW Property Proposal Approved

New Milford Redevelopment Associates, the applicant looking to develop the property, had mentioned the possibility of adding a left turn lane to River Road and adding more green-light time for drivers approaching the light on Madison Avenue.

Berge Tombalakian, the zoning board’s traffic consultant, felt that these mitigation efforts were insufficient and was asked to review the traffic issues that would be caused by the development of the United Water property at the intersection of River Road and Madison Avenue.

On Tuesday evening, Tombalakian returned to sit with the board and explain his findings.

“We looked at various combinations of timing changes, adding different lanes, changing the arrangement of the intersection to develop what improvements would be needed to offset the added traffic that would come to that intersection,” Tombalakian explained.

If the application of the developers current proposal were approved, Tombakalian had a list of improvements he deemed to be needed.

• Roadway Plans - $40,000
• Right of Way Documents - $30,000
• Property Easements - $230,000
• Utility Relocations - $120,000
• Preliminary Construction Cost Estimate - $730,000
• Construction Inspection - $90,000

“Rounding it all off it comes up to about $1.25 million. That is for the entire project,” said Tombalakian.

Construction would include the widening of Madison Avenue and River Road by about 10-12 feet for a length of "roughly 300 feet," to accommodate left turn lanes. One lane would be added to River Road as you approach Madison Avenue from New Milford High School and the other would be added to Madison Avenue as you approach from River Road from Boulevard. 

Property along the areas to be widened would need to be purchased if the improvements were made. The properties in this area consist of residents front yards. 

Questions were previously raised about the intersection of Madison Avenue and Main Street. Zoning board attorney Scott Sproviero asked if a similar price-tag might be needed for other intersections in the area. Tombalakin was hesitant to lump intersections together, but didn’t deny that possibility.

Sproviero explained that the percentage of the $1.25 million the applicant would be pay would need to be calculated. 

"When you look at the entirety of the improvement a calculus has to be employed as to determine what percentage of the improvement results from the applicant's development," said Sproviero. 

The percentage has not yet been calculated by the zoning board or the applicant. 

Is a $1.25 million price too high for what would be the widening of a single intersection? Would you like to see Tombalakian look into surrounding intersections? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.