'Like a game of frogger'

Alps Road and Hamburg turnpike project nearly completed but testing nerves in Wayne

By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

WAYNE - Construction has restarted at Alps Road and Hamburg Turnpike, churning up another wave of concerns about the project that is meant to relive gridlock at the intersection.
..... The $6.2 million project by Passaic County should be finished before the end of May [2024] - a little more than two years after it began.
..... The work involved creating a jug-handle east of Alps Road and south of Hamburg Turnpike, installing new traffic lights, and widening both thoroughfares. Left turns are no longer allowed at the crossroads.
..... Local officials said drivers have been slow to learn the changes.
..... "people aren't getting it," said Councilman Jonathan Ettman, addressing the township administration at a meeting last week. [03/20/2024]
..... Ettman said he witnessed a "horrendous" care accident at the intersection when a motorist tried to make what is now an illegal left turn form Hamburg Turnpike onto Alps Road.
..... "I don't know how long we can wait before we're going to have a tragedy," Ettman said. "I know that it's tough right now, but there needs to be some really improved signage."
..... council President Jason DeStefano said the current conditions of the intersection is "like a game of Frogger," referring to an arcade game favorite where the objective is to dodge traffic.
..... Detective Captain Danial Daly said Tuesday [03/26/2024] that there have been four crashes at the intersection this year. [2024]
..... Crews returned to the site to complete the job this month. [03/2024]
..... It was substantially done when the traffic lights were put into operation in December. [2023] At that time, county officials said workers would return in the spring to repave and stripe the intersection.
..... Concrete medians, often called Jersey barriers, will be case in place to divide oncoming lanes.
..... Temporary changes to the traffic pattern,and some lane closings, may occur during the last construction phase.
..... Mayor Christopher Vergano said police are helping to control traffic at rush hour, adding that he planned to request backup form the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.
..... The intersection, about 1,200 feet north of the entrance to DePaul Catholic High School, is also the location of a new strip mall that is expected to pone within days,
..... The Yard a 10,482-square-foot retail plaza built by March Associates Construction Incorporation of Wayne, will have seven tenants, including European Wax center, Mathnasium and the first Crumbl Cookies in the county.

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