Long and winding roads

After 7 years and $211M, construction on Route 46/3 deemed complete

By: Matt Fagan
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Seven years, and more than $11 million later, the New Jersey Transpiration Department's elaborate reconfiguration of the Route 46/Rout 3 interchange is for most intents and purposes, deemed complete.
..... "There is no substantial work to be done, and the project is still expected to be completed by the end of the year," [2023] said Leanna Nelson, the department's public information officer.
..... The weekend of October 14 and 15 [2023] saw the last states of paving, and this past weekend, [10/28-29/2023] construction for overhead signs forced the closing of the Route 46 eastbound ramp to Notch Road. Work there was expected to last about a week.
..... Some of the remaining work includes striping, pavement marker installation and landscaping, Nelson siad.
..... For area businesses, drivers and local officials, the construction's end will come as a relief. "After too many years, I'm looking forward to a substantial amount of rush-hour traffic being elimination from our local roads, since drivers will be better-suited remaining on the highway now that traffic will be flowing far more freely," Little falls Mayor James Daminano said.
..... Previously, he said, Route 4 just didn't have enough lanes to flow freely heading east, but the improvements will allow cars to move much more smoothly toward New York.
..... Transportation officials said that was precisely the point of the federally funded project. The interchange's configuration was deficient, creating major bottlenecks for vehicles traveling in either direction. Factor in heavy traffic volume during peak periods, inadequate or nonexistent acceleration and deceleration lanes and shoulders, all adding to the congestion, the Transportation Department said.
..... The realignment was performed in two states, labeled Contract a and Contract B. construction work began on Contract A in spring 2016.
..... Contract A included the relocation of major Newark and Passaic Valley Water Commission water mains, a new Clove Road overpass and reconstruction of the existing Notch Road Bridge.
..... It also added a new Notch Road/Lackawanna Avenue/riffle Camp Road roundabout and feature the reconstruction of both Lackawanna Avenue and Rifle Camp Road and a full-length construction service road from Valley Road to the new roundabout, among other items.
..... Contract B, started in 2020, was the more ambitious, $170 million project to widen Route 46, provide standard shoulders and acceleration/deceleration/auxiliary lanes and cerate better sight distance. At the intersection of Route 46 and 3, a three-lane section replaced the existing two-lane connections.
..... It also added items like sound barriers and realigned the interchange of 46 and 2, as well, which drivers and officials say seems to be working.
..... The ultimate proof of the project's efficacy, said Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski, will be how well traffic flows in the long term.
..... "We are glad the project is finally completed," Grabowski said. "I'm sure it was a hardship for some of the business owners over the past years, and hopefully the improvements will help revitalize their businesses."

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