Atlantic County Officials Dispute Safety of Redesigned Airport Circle

Atlantic County Officials have spoken out, saying the Airport Circe, in it's current configuration has seen improvements in safety. This disputes an article earlier this week in the Press of Atlantic City.

County Executive Dennis Levinson says monthly reports from the Egg Harbor Township Police Department’s Records Office reveals a decline in both the number of accidents as well as injuries since the reconfiguration was completed earlier this year.

Here's what a press release reveals about the matter:

According to these monthly accident reports, there were 76 reported accidents on the circle between October 2009 and October 2010, 10 of which involved injuries. The following year there were 63 reported accidents of which 9 claimed injuries. From October 2011 through October 2012 the number of accidents has further declined to 56, of which 9 involved injuries.

A recent article in The Press of Atlantic City reported accident statistics at or near the Airport Circle that incorrectly showed an increase, rather than the actual decrease, since the reconfiguration was completed.

“There is certainly a discrepancy but the facts are clear. The number of accidents has decreased. The reconfiguration of the Airport Circle has accomplished what it was designed to do - reduce accidents and injuries on what was previously one of the most accident-prone roadways in Southern New Jersey. In fact the circle was rated the #1 most dangerous in South Jersey.”

Levinson further noted that Delilah Road and Tilton Road carry over 45,000 vehicles per day through this area that provides access to both the Atlantic City International Airport and the William J. Hughes Technical Center. The South Jersey Transportation Authority has announced plans to construct a direct connection from the Atlantic City Expressway to Amelia Earhart Boulevard, a roadway onto Tilton Road and one onto Delilah Road, and eliminate the connection of Amelia Earhart onto the circle. Due to budget constraints on the part of SJTA, these plans are now delayed.

“It is unfortunate that the facts have been misconstrued,” added Levinson. “We have reached out to The Press editors to determine how this could have happened when we each received our data from the same source. Media and government share a common goal, to provide the public with timely and accurate information."