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Detour jams traffic on 17
(by Sean Nyhan and Sam Passow - January 16, 2008)
As many local motorists already know, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has begun work on the Essex Street crossing over Route 17, and the 73-year-old bridge is no more.
Preliminary construction deadlines originally penned the demolition for next year but the NJDOT announced the accelerated construction timeline will see a completion date 18 months ahead of initial estimates. Instead of the previous May 2010 benchmark, DOT officials now anticipate a completion date in November.
The targeted area for renovation includes portions around the crossing that exists in Lodi, Rochelle Park and Maywood. An area reserved for construction along Essex Street that spans from Maywood Avenue to the Route 17 southbound ramps will be closed until August.
“The NJDOT recognizes that this project impacts an entire region,” reads a portion of a release from Philip Petrowski, a resident engineer for the DOT.
Details of the construction, which is led by the joint venture contracting team of Creamer-Sanzari, includes improved signage, redesigned traffic patterns and drainage improvements to alleviate flooding.
The new bridge will carry six lanes of traffic, with four through lanes, one center lane exclusively for left turns and an auxiliary right turn lane to allow access to Route 17 northbound.
Underneath the bridge, the highway will also be widened to accommodate six lanes of traffic with additional acceleration and deceleration lanes.
Until commuters adjust to the temporary construction induced traffic patterns, Petrowski advises adding a few additional minutes to travel times.
Lodi Borough Manager Tony Luna reported definite impacts on local roads since construction began. The detours, he said, have allowed potentially congested areas to move at a decent pace.
In Maywood, however, the situation is worse, since detours are not as readily available. Traffic from Maywood Avenue, Luna said, has been funneled onto Central Avenue to avoid Essex Street.
Maywood Police Chief David Pegg and Luna both confirmed that local police have agreed on mutual aid adjustments to provide immediate service on both sides of the Essex Street gap. On the western side, Lodi emergency teams will take care of any Maywood properties. East of Route 17, Maywood departments will handle any Lodi entities like National Wholesale Liquidators and Home Depot.
“Emergency service will be 100 percent on both sides,” said Pegg.
Riders on New Jersey Transit bus lines 144, 164 and 712 should expect delays or alternate routes. According to New Jersey Transit, some lines will travel along detours and traditional stops will be replaced by alternates. Passengers on the 709 bus from Bloomfield to Paramus should also experience delays caused by congestion along the Rochelle Avenue corridor.
While the construction has pushed bus routes and local traffic onto alternate roadways ahead of schedule, municipal officials and local police are pleased with the updated time frame for what some have called an overdue initiative.
In the past police were regularly called to the area to respond to motor vehicle violations and accidents. According to Pegg, members of his department responded between three and four times each week to the Essex Street interchange.
“This is a plan that’s been talked about for years,” he said.
Maywood Borough Administrator Thomas Richards reported an average of 30 to 40 accidents per month.
“That intersection is one of the most dangerous in the state,” he said.
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