July 24, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Mahwah Township takes action to reduce accidents by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council has decided to address the number of accidents that occur each year at the inter- section of Seminary Drive and Campgaw Road. Michael Kelly, a professional engineer for Boswell McClave Engineering, recently advised the council that, over the past three years, there have been 17 vehicle crashes with 11 injuries at that intersection. There have been four accidents there already this year. Kelly attributed the accidents to several factors, includ- ing the bend in Campgaw Road heading south and the hill that vehicles are descending when they come around the bend in that road, the obstructed sight distances along Campgaw Road caused by vegetation that is within the township’s 10-foot right of way; and the high rate of speed of motorists traveling south on that road as they approach the intersection. Kelly recommended contacting the Rio Vista Associa- tion about clearing some of the vegetation along Campgaw Road, asking the county to install signage to warn motorists about the dangerous intersection, and putting in a striped pedestrian crosswalk to alert motorists to the oncoming intersection. Some council members suggested installing a traffic signal at that location, but Kelly said he did not think it would warrant a traffic signal although it is possible that a flashing signal may be recommended by the Rutgers Transportation Safety Resource Center, which is undertak- ing a road safety audit of the intersection. However, Kelly said that audit may take a year to complete. Kelly explained that the accidents tend to happen during the day because, at night, motorists can see the headlights of vehicles trying to enter the intersection. Councilman John Spiech said the 45 mile per hour speed limit on Campgaw Road is too high. “It’s the speed limit that’s the problem there,” he said. If pedestrian striping were installed, Spiech asked if the county would install signs warning motorists to slow down for the crosswalk. Kelly said the county would install signs, but noted that the thermal striping would cost the township about $8,500. Councilman Steven Sbarra agreed that the 45 mph speed limit on Campgaw Road is dangerous and that the root cause of the accidents is the speed of vehicles coming around the bend in Campgaw Road. He said he wasn’t sure if striping would make a difference and, although he feels something has to be done about the number of accidents there, he doesn’t want to throw money into something that won’t work. Sbarra made a motion to proceed with asking the county to reduce the speed limit on Campgaw Road, put up caution- ary signage, and cut down the vegetation that is obstructing the sight lines of the motorists, but not to proceed with the striping. He amended that motion when it was suggested that the township’s department of public works could paint the crosswalks with white paint instead of using the more expensive thermal striping. Sbarra then changed his motion to include the paint striping, and that motion was seconded by Councilman Roy Larson and approved by all members of the council except Charles Jandris, who was absent. Girl Scout sponsors science sessions Girl Scout Ariel Murphy of Troop 903 is offering a series of Summer Saturday Science Workshops at the Mahwah Public Library as part of her Gold Award requirements. These workshops are open to students in grades two through five and run from 11 a.m. to noon. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the program will be Chemistry Kids. Participants will use invisible ink and make oobleck to take home. On Saturday, Aug. 17, participants in Better Buildings will build a structure from newspaper and tape, testing height and strength principals. Participants in this work- shop will also experiment with the physical properties of buoyancy. Space is limited. Register in person at the library at 100 Ridge Road, Mahwah or send an e-mail to tempestsprite@yahoo.com.