Franklin council decides to keep Auche Drive closed to traffic

FRANKLIN - The borough council has decided to leave Pvt. Joseph Auche Drive closed to local traffic, while at the same time allowing emergency vehicles to get through when necessary. The council’s vote effectively ends an issue that had begun 14 years earlier when nearby Wal-Mart first submitted its application to the planning board. At that time, Auche Drive had been open to traffic from Route 23 via Washington Street. But the New Jersey Department of Transportation had wanted Auche Drive closed completely, something that concerned borough officials and emergency management personnel. A compromise allowed the borough to install pylons in Auch Drive to keep cars from entering from Wal-Mart across the street. The pylons look like steel posts and are an effective bar to normal traffic, but they are actually flexible enough to allow emergency vehicles to drive over them if they need quick access. Also, as part of a safety agreement between the DOT and the borough, a stop light was installed at the 23/Washington Street intersection. Washington Street also has a set of pylons to control access to a residential neighborhood that also involves Lozaw Road, Ginter Street and the borough’s elementary school. The part of Washington that abuts the highway is open only to traffic leaving a local gas station and onto Route 23 north. Emergency management and other borough officials have worried that if Auche Drive were to be totally closed at Route 23, emergency vehicles would have to drive another quarter mile down 23 and use the Taylor Street entrance to gain access. The council’s decision effectively closes off the Washington/Auche area anyway, but leaves emergency vehicles with the ability to enter Auche Drive. It also satisfies DOT concerns over motorists having to traverse two lanes of highway traffic in some instances, depending on where the drivers were going. Taylor Road, which has a somewhat steep climb both to and from the highway, remains unaffected by the borough’s decision. Councilman Jim Williams said that the town “will maintain the area in front of Auche Drive by keeping the grass cut and removing the snow in wintertime.” “It’s really a safety factor,” added Phillip Crabb, the borough’s emergency management coordinator who was pleased by the council’s decision. “And it isn’t just the fire department that can utilize that (street).” Mayor Doug Kistle said he is in “full agreement” with the council’s decision as well. “Mr. Crabb explained that if emergency vehicles were coming, the best way to help them would be by coming through Auche,” the mayor explained. “And that could save someone’s life.”