Township officials will be meeting with county officials on Thursday morning about a proposal to install a snow fence along Millburn Avenue to control pedestrian traffic.

County officials and police have proposed installing a fence along Millburn Avenue between Main Street and Tinga as part of the downtown bridge construction project. Officials are citing an expected increase in downtown pedestrian traffic and keeping them safe after school opens as the reason for the fence. The fence is expected to be installed before school opens Tuesday.

Daniel Baer, the Township Committee member serving as liaison on the project, said he and John Buccholz, Downtown Millburn president, will be meeting with county officials on Thursday morning.

"We've come up with some alternatives we'll present to them at that time," he said. But Baer would not reveal what those alternatives are.

A group of downtown business owners have indicated to township and Downtown Millburn officials they are opposed to the fence. There's also a Facebook page titled Fight the Fence, which indicates the group is raising money to hire a crossing guard. Towne Realty Group has donated $1,000.

Baer said he was aware of the effort and received an email about it from the Millburn Deli owners. But he thinks the effort is premature.

"Let's wait to see what happens with the county and then have a conversation if necessary," he said.

County officials are overseeing a project to demolish and replace the Millburn Avenue bridge over the west branch of the Rahway River. The bridge is just east of Main Street. It's expected to take about eight months to complete the project.

There has been changes in the downtown traffic patterns downtown, including the removal of on-street parking and a no-left turn from Millburn Avenue onto Main Street. Additionally the south side of the street's sidewalk is closed in the vicinity.