Four Way Stop Planned for S. Chestnut and Fourth

A four way stop is planned for the intersection of South Chestnut Street and Fourth Avenue, adjacent to Gumbert Park.

Councilwoman Joann Neylan, the chairwoman of the public safety committee, said that no formal decision has been made but the intersection is under review by the town's traffic consultant and is likely the next place a four way stop is scheduled to be put in. She said the public safety panel will wait for a formal report from the consultant before making a final decision.

"We know it is the next one to be targeted," Neylan said of the intersection. "It is next to Gumbert field and there is a lot of traffic there."

There is currently a stop sign for traffic headed along Fourth Avenue at the intersection. There are rumble strips for traffic on South Chestnut along with speed humps on South Chestnut on either side of the intersection with Fourth.

Traffic turning off of North Avenue near the Garwood Shoprite typically speeds along South Chestnut past the park and into a residential neighborhood. The park spans both sides of South Chestnut.

Gumbert Park is a popular spot for little league baseball games during the spring and summer months. In addition, basketball courts and a playground draw in residents from both Westfield and Garwood. South Chestnut is a popular cut through street for drivers headed towards Shoprite and North Avenue. It is one of the few streets to directly connect East Broad Street to North Avenue.

The last four way stop placed in town was last year at the intersection of Park and Boulevard on the south side. The first four way stop was put into place in the 1990s at the intersection of Elmer Street and Lenox Avenue at the insistence of former Mayor Garland "Bud" Boothe.