The most dangerous intersection in South Jersey won’t be as bad anymore. The Potter and Ellis Street intersection project was officially declared finished on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as the Camden County Freeholders and Mayor Tish Colombi officially ended the project at McDonnel Park.
The borough completed a study of the intersection several years ago, Colombi said after the press conference, which proved that the intersection was the most dangerous in terms of accidents in all of South Jersey. It was easy to see why, as the unregulated intersection called for several merges as cars came into Haddonfield and travelled either onto Ellis Street or Potter Street.
Now, cars stopped and waited at the newly reconstructed intersection, which now boasts a four-way traffic signal leading into the borough.
The $2.3 million project included the installation of a new traffic signal, repaving of intersection approaches and the construction of new turning lanes. New curbing with ADA compliant curb cuts and ramps were installed, along with new storm water grates and streetscape improvements.
Haddonfield contributed about $1 million to the project.
The project came in a month earlier than expected, Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Capelli Jr. reported.
“We are proud that this project was completed early and under budget,” said Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works. “This project benefits residents in both Haddonfield Borough and Cherry Hill Township due to its location at the border of the two municipalities.”
An added bonus for Haddonfield residents? Due to the design of the project, large tractor-trailers will no longer be able to cut through the borough using Potter Street, Colombi said. The left hand turn is too tight for the large trucks to make, she said.
The project was remarkably different than the Tanner Street project, Colombi said, as the Tanner project was completed three months later than expected. She praised Asphalt Services for being on the job site every single day and for taking a better approach to keeping neighbors and the borough updated on the status of the construction.
The Tanner Street project was much less smooth, she said, as there were some days that the construction company didn’t have any employees working on the street, despite good weather. It seemed also, she said, as if the company didn’t quite realize how much the project was affecting the borough and surrounding businesses along Tanner Street.
