Have you heard about the recent tragic accidents in Manville? There have been three accidents
within the same week, and another on October 1st, 2023, all while there has been construction along
Main Street.
within the same week, and another on October 1st, 2023, all while there has been construction along
Main Street.
The first incident happened on Friday, August 25, 2023, with awful results, as two people were killed
and one was sent to the hospital injured. A concerned Manville citizen said, “…speed was the cause.
Nothing will be done considering we have had 3 deaths in that area alone.” The second accident
happened on Sunday, August 27, 2023, near South Main Street and Voorhees Avenue (Route 27) within
only two days of the previous accident. Again, there were two fatalities in this accident as well.
Thankfully, the third crash had no report of serious injuries, nor was it reported. The latest, however,
was a motorcyle accident which needed paramedics to aide the biker. Main Street has become even
more dangerous within this past year.
You may be curious as to why have they been messing with the street and sidewalks. This
past year there have been many reports of accidents just in that area of town. This includes accidents involving
pedestrians, as there was a devastating fatal accident involving a young teen on December 22, 2022.
14-year-old George Warkins, a student at Manville High School, was crossing over on Main St. and
Dukes Pkwy E when a truck struck him. George was airlifted to a trauma center, and he was
pronounced dead after arrival. Mr Watkins, George’s father, spoke to the commissioners to lower the
speed limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH, hoping this could prevent something like this from ever
happening again. After that, the town had no choice but to do something about it. Since
then, the township has been trying to fix the area and successfully changed the speed limit to 25
MPH, along with expanding the sidewalks. In spite of the roads being worked on,
civilians are left with unsafe conditions for driving and walking on Main Street. Individuals who
want to walk along the walkways now have to walk on the edge of the actual road because of
sidewalks being closed due to the expansion.
Since individuals now have to walk on the street, drivers have to be on even higher alert to
try to prevent accidents. This is causing more traffic along with all of the construction. Roadwork
started in March 2023 and is still continuously going. Construction has happened in multiple places
along Main Street all at one time. Why are they starting so many projects on the main road in town
without finishing them? The sidewalk near Quickchek on Brooks Blvd. and Main Street were closed
at the same time as the walkways along the shopping center. Those sidewalks continue all the way
north and south of Main Street, and were closed for over two weeks as the township started new
projects. Why is there so much construction at one time?
To initiate solving these problems the town is facing, Manville residents should take into
consideration all that is going on. And, following the law as it is stated throughout the town. This entails watching our speed, being aware of our surroundings, and minimizing our distractions while on the road. Together, let’s try to make Manville a safer place.
