A large tanker truck transporting propane overturned on Glen Road in Sparta on March 7. (Photos provided)
It is sad and disappointing that news of the large tanker truck transporting propane on Glen Road (a Sussex County road) near Milton Road (a township road) that overturned on the infamous 90-degree turn on Glen Road, causing a day-long closure of Glen Road to Crossing for most of March 7, has not appeared prominently in the news.
It was only by sheer luck that the propane tanker was not full and did not explode, causing devastating loss of life, limb and nearby structures.
At least two eyewitnesses stated that the tanker truck was “going fast” up Glen Road. The tanker-truck driver said it was cut off by a car exiting Milton Road, causing the tanker to turn over.
This is only the latest - and the most potentially disastrous accident - along this stretch of road in recent years.
For decades, many accidents on Glen Road have been documented by the Sparta police. Many undocumented vehicular accidents have also occurred here.
Over the past 60 or so years, numerous examinations and traffic studies have been completed by both Sparta Township and Sussex County, addressing issues on this stretch of road. Only some upgraded road signage was put in place.
While these efforts by the township and county are appreciated, they are far from being adequate - or successful - in addressing the fundamental issues:
1. The safety of the residents and those traveling on Glen Road, including many school buses.
2. The safety of residential structures on Glen Road.
3. Vehicular safety, in general, on Glen Road.
Given the history of previous studies of this road, residents of Sparta should be asking that corrective actions not be delayed with yet more studies.
Should input and/or assistance from external road safety professionals etc. be advantageous in solving this issue, it is expected that the county engage them without delay. It is also expected that additional time-consuming studies replicating results of existing Glen Road studies not delay timely actions required to ensure the safety of those living and/or traveling on Glen Road.
Furthermore, as tax-paying residents of Sussex County and Sparta Township, this critical safety need must be addressed with a sense of urgency, and we rely on both the county and township to protect and ensure our safety and will accept no less.
Therefore, concerned individuals are urged to contact both the Sparta Township manager at 973-729-4493, Sparta Township chief of police at 973-729-6121 and the Sussex County Department of Engineering and Planning at 973-579-0430 ext. 1302 to demand a laser focus on, and the rapid resolution of, this untenable and extremely dangerous situation.
C.L. Gordon
Sparta