The letter below was written to West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh.
Dear Mayor Hsueh:
I have lived in the Dutch Neck Estates development for 20 years. I have witnessed the rapid deterioration of the sidewalks and lampposts within my side of the development. The sidewalks are completely unsafe to walk on in front of many homes on Highmont Drive, Greenfield Drive, and New Village Road. The tipping point was seeing the construction of a new asphalt sidewalk around the perimeter of the Mercer Oaks Golf Club. There are no sidewalks at all on either side of Conover Road for much of the distance from Edinburg Road to North Post Road.
As a runner I find it extremely treacherous to have to run in the road, but the sidewalks leaving my home and neighborhood are unsafe. Last October I had a serious accident from falling when I was forced back onto the sidewalk on New Village Road where the bike path ends. You are forced up onto the sidewalk as a continuation of the bike path. Immediately after entering the sidewalk there is a raised concrete section. In my case the edge was covered by mud and leaves and I did not see the elevated sidewalk until it was too late.
This was not the first time I have been injured from the deterioration of the sidewalks. They are a true danger.
My neighbors, including an elderly man with a cane and families with children in strollers, must contend with walking/running in the street because of the sidewalk hazards. In addition, there is a snapped telephone pole on Edinburg Road behind our development for years that is held together with a piece of rope at the top and bottom. Why? Doesn’t the Department of Public Works have the safety of residents as one of their job requirements?
They came out last month to clean the streets next to the curb and scheduled the cleaning on trash day. Therefore, most of the street curb was not cleaned because the truck went around the trash cans. It was a complete waste of time and effort –– and a waste of our tax dollars.
There is also a section of the grass right-of-way on New Village Road approaching Edinburg Road that has two large ruts dug out from an out of control car that nearly hit a tree. The ruts fill up with water every time there is a hard rain, creating a mosquito breeding ground.
In addition, the light poles in our development need to be replaced. One of the poles on Greenfield Drive is completely rotted at the top. It is an accident waiting to happen.
I have seen the articles about Village Grande and the inability of the township to address their sidewalk and apron issues. Those residents have waited far too long for a resolution of their problem. When a problem is identified the resolution should be implemented in an expeditious manner.
I will contact the local media regarding these issues. The next step is a petition asking for a resolution to these issues. Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated.
Kathy Brazil
33 Highmont Drive
