BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - Discussions about truck traffic near the Galloping Hills development off Route 526 continued on June 23.

The discussion with township officials took place informally, as the Township Committee did not have a quorum for a meeting. Mayor Stephen Fleischacker and Committeeman Sal Diecidue listened to a presentation by residents about the ongoing problem with truck noise and speed.

Mike McCormick, a Galloping Hills resident and state trooper, said there are 15 sand and gravel pits in Ocean County. He said trucks from the pits travel up Route 539, down Sharon Station Road and onto Route 526 to the easterly bypass, which skirts around downtown Allentown, to make their way to Route I-195, where they head throughout the region.

McCormick said the truck traffic is a quality-of-life issue for the township.

"We moved here because of the beautiful area," McCormick said. "Little did we know it was turning into a major truck route."

According to McCormick's presentation, the township has three options. Its first option, he said, is to stop large trucks from traveling the aforementioned route to the easterly bypass.

He said it makes more sense for trucks to head east on Route 537 from Route 539 and get on I-195 at the Six Flags Great Adventure interchange. According to McCormick, that route is 6.8 miles longer than traveling Sharon Station to Route 526, and would take an extra four minutes.

McCormick said Route 537 is more truck-friendly, with food, gasoline and larger shoulders for truckers. He said there is an 8-foot shoulder on Route 537, compared to an 8-inch shoulder on Route 526.

The township's second option, according to McCormick, would be to create a new interchange for I-195 at Sharon Station Road. McCormick conceded that it would take years to create the interchange, if it is even a possibility.

A third option, he said, would be to correct the easterly bypass with a sweeping curve. Right now, according to McCormick, two or three trucks are often lined up to enter the bypass from Route 526. This causes an obstructed view for those on the bypass trying to make a left-hand turn onto Route 526, he said.

McCormick said a sweeping curve would keep the majority of traffic moving freely, and would eliminate truck start-up noise. He called this solution "simple and cost-effective."

Another Galloping Hills resident, William Truesdale, said he had concerns about fire trucks exiting the Hope Fire Company, which is located adjacent to the bypass, because of the truck traffic.

"You will have accidents with the fire trucks," Truesdale said. "It's not if, but when.

"I have nothing against trucks," Truesdale added. "It's a quality-of-life issue. If this was in your backyard, you wouldn't like it either."

Township Engi-neer Glenn Gerken asked to have a copy of McCormick's rendition of a sweeping curve for the bypass.