County Wants to Fix Riverton Road/Branch Pike Intersection

County engineers are proposing a fix to the deadly intersection that recently the week before Christmas.

Where Branch Pike and Riverton Road meet could get a modern roundabout, a move engineers say could reduce accidents there by 35 percent.

County engineers presented the plan to Monday night, and if county freeholders accept the project, construction would start next year.

“It’s just a horrible intersection,” Mayor Don Brauckmann said. “Typically, when we get an accident there, it’s bad.”

Brauckmann is currently a Moorestown police officer and formerly, an officer in Cinnaminson.

“I’m just concerned with the way it will affect residents and those who live there,” Brauckmann said. “The county is going to work with them.”

The intersection improvement project includes a modern roundabout—similar to the Cinnaminson Avenue circle—in the middle of Riverton Road, Branch Pike and Parry Road. Riverton Road is a county thoroughfare, connecting Cinnaminson and Moorestown.

County engineers have been examining the road for more than a decade, and determined if left as is, traffic and accidents will never improve.

The modern roundabout, engineers said, would show a 35 percent reduction in crashes, a reduction in congestion and is more cost-effective over traffic signals.

It would be large enough to accommodate a semi trailer and fire trucks. The speed limit would be 25.

“I think it’s needed, without a doubt” Committeeman Ben Young said. “It’s not an easy intersection.”

On Dec. 23, a Friday evening rush hour accident killed a 79-year-old Moorestown woman in a head-on collision at Branch Pike and Riverton Road. County engineers found there were 32 crashes between 2000 and 2002 and 39 from 2005 to 2007.

“Our firm is prepared to design this right away,” said Joseph T. Brickley, county engineer.

Buchart Horn, Inc., engineers from Marlton, presented the design. It would be constructed using county funding.

“Circles have been resurrected because of the increase in volume of traffic over the years,” Brickley said. “[This intersection] screams for us to do this.”

Brickley said the next step—which would occur in about six months—is a public information session, most likely to be held at the Cinnaminson Township building. County officials will reach out to neighbors in the area about the plan and work with them, if needed.

“I’d like to see this move forward,” Brauckmann said. “I’m glad the county approached us.”

Township committee has no jurisdiction over this project; the presentation by county engineers is merely a courtesy to the township. The project would ultimately be voted on by county freeholders, not Cinnaminson Township Committee.