By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Shoppers at the Ventnor City Farmers Market won’t be coming and going in the usual manner this summer. The Board of Commissioners April 14 said it will make a change to the flow of traffic on S. Newport Avenue between Atlantic and Ventnor avenues before the summer season.
The roadway, which is currently a two-way street, is not wide enough to accommodate vehicles traveling in both directions, Police Chief Joseph Fussner said.
The new traffic pattern will have vehicles flowing in one direction from Atlantic Avenue to Ventnor Avenue, he said.
The change was requested by several business owners who asked the city to review conditions on the two-way street, Fussner said.
The change in the traffic flow would be more consistent with traffic patterns on other streets in the area, he said.
The center double-yellow line identifying it is a no-passing zone will be removed. A contractor is available to do the re-striping by the end of April, and Do Not Enter signs will be posted at the intersection of Ventnor Avenue. One Way directional traffic signs will also be installed at St. James Church parking lot instructing motorists to turn right, and at the municipal parking lot across the street instructing motorists to turn left.
The Police Department will distribute flyers and posters in the neighborhood to advise business owners and their customers of the change.
Commissioner of Public Works Lance Landgraf suggested painting arrows on the roadway surface to better inform motorists of the new traffic pattern.
Landgraf said the city would install new signage at the municipal parking lot to identify the lot for public parking.
Commissioner Tim Kriebel said, the change would be transitional.
“It’s going to be a challenge, especially with the farmers market coming out of there,” he said.
Landgraf suggested the Police Department employ the use of its mobile digital sign to inform motorists of the change for several weeks during the beginning of summer.
The Ventnor City Farmer Market will open for the season on Friday, May 27.
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