County Conducting Traffic Studies on Lanes Mill Road Following Tragic Accident

Parking lot improvements underway at Brick Memorial High School, July 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Ocean County officials said this week that they are conducting traffic studies on Lanes Mill Road in Brick Township, following the May 19 accident that claimed the life of a Brick Memorial High School student.

County Commissioner Jennifer Jennifier Bacchione, along with County Administrator Michael Fiure and County Engineer Mark F. Jehnke appeared at the township council meeting this week to hear from residents and update officials on their response to calls from residents who have asked that the speed limit on the county road be reduced, and school zones expanded. The accident, in which a juvenile was reportedly traveling about 80 m.p.h. in a 40 m.p.h. zone, resulted in the death of 15-year-old Jackson Mueller, a freshman at Brick Memorial High School who was walking between his home and the high school.

“Ocean County is deeply hurt by what has happened with the family, and we feel very badly for your loss,” said Bacchione. “Right after the incident happened, we had our county engineer reach out to one of the township council members and schools superintendent to make sure we can work together to ensure safety for all of the residents of Brick Township.”

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Several residents reiterated their request for a reduced speed limit on Lanes Mill Road, as well as the expansion of school zones beyond the physical property borders of the schools themselves. Because three schools – Herbertsville School, Lanes Mill Elementary School and the high school – are all on the same road, they opined that drivers can become confused since the speed limit bounces between 40 m.p.h. and 25 m.p.h. multiple times within the span of approximately 2.5 miles between the intersections of Herbertsville and Burnt Tavern roads. They also spoke of a generally chaotic scenario that unfolds daily, with drivers making K-turns to avoid getting stuck behind slow-moving buses, other drivers illegally passing buses, and some who ignore the speed limit altogether. They also said several school zone signs were outdated.

A 40 m.p.h. speed limit sign on Lanes Mill Road in Brick, followed by a crosswalk sign. (File Photo)

“The blinking lights going south do not work,” said Brenn Swanson, one of the residents who spoke. “The two 25 m.p.h. zone [signs] are being blocked by trees that are in the way, and I also beg of you to not have it be 40-25-40-25 [m.p.h.], when all of the parallel roads are 35 [m.p.h.],” she said.

Fiure, the county administrator, said he and his staff have a meeting with township officials scheduled for June 25 when they will discuss the matter further amidst ongoing studies of the roadway.

“We are going to talk with law enforcement, the schools and anyone who can help with the situation on that road,” he said. “Boxes are monitoring traffic counts and speeds. It will take a little time to find out what is legally possible, what is able to be engineered, and what the town would like us to do. But we are going to work with the town and all parties involved to make sure that road becomes safer.”

Fiure said county officials will return to a future Brick Township council meeting to provide an update.

Mayor Lisa Crate said since 2018, the township has been focusing on Lanes Mill Road, utilizing state “Safe Routes to School” grants to install sidewalks and designate new pedestrian crosswalks.

“All of the improvements were through those grants, and it hasn’t just been Lanes Mill,” she said. “It’s been Midstreams, Drum Point, all around town working with the engineer.”