Route 17 bottleneck repairs now left up to the state

By: Kristie Cattafri
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... The next step to improve the bottleneck areas of Route 17 where thousands of motorist battle daily traffic gridlock in Paramus, Rochell Park and Maywood will be up to the state.
..... The goal is to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the number of accidents and air pollution on the highway in the area of Maywood, Rochelle Park and Lodi and on the southbound side in Paramus, near the Fairview Avenue exit, right before Route 4.
..... The preliminary engineering phase will begin in 2024 and take about two years, Bergen County Engineer Joe Femia said.
..... This phase will be led by the state Department of Transportation.
..... During the preliminary engineering phases, enhance map surveys will be conducted to find the exact locations of utilities and property lines. Surveys will be brought to design-level quality and look at the structural footprints of the bridges involved and the roadway geometry, Femia said.
..... "You won't be blown away by what you can see, but they will be in the field doing a lot of investigate work," Femia said. "these are major, major, important steps in the progress."
..... In the last 20 years, this is the most any plan to improve the trouble area has advanced. The stretch of highway is used by thousands of motorists daily and tractor-trailers that carry billions of dollars in commerce yearly.
..... The new funding, combined with the fact that bridges in the area are nearing the century mark in age and need significant repairs, has helped the plan advance to this stage.
..... "These are two major accomplishments," Femia said. "Being on the verge of the preliminary design phase and having funding programmed, the project has never gotten this are before."
..... The state Transportation Improvement Program approved $338.5 million for the project in September [2023] by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. That money will go toward the upcoming deigns phases, Femia said.
..... Bergen County officials said although the project is out of their hands, they will continue to support it.
..... "The county executive will continue to champion the project and do everything in our power to continue to advance it," said Derek Sands, deputy chief of staff for County Executive Jim Tedesco. "We will keep everyone;s eyes on the ball with advocacy and continue to work with the DOT and governor's office."

Old bridges help highway's cause

..... Officials are also optimistic there will be traction this time because of the condition of the five bridges along the highway hat are nearing the end of their lifespan.
..... The five bridges in the study area are the Susquehanna Railroad spur, Susquehanna Railroad, Central Avenue, Passaic Street and Pleasant Avenue.
..... An analysis from 2007 to 2019 found that there were 899 crashes in this section of Route 17 bottleneck project. That's about one crashes per day, requiring continuous emergency responses, and is greater than the statewide average for similar roadways.
..... To improve traffic and safety, a third lane will be added in each direction with standard width inside and with outside shoulders provided where feasible. Standard acceleration and deceleration lanes will be provided for ramp connections at Passaic Street, Pleasant Avenue and Farview Avenue. There will be new Route 17 bridges over the NYS&W Railroad, Central Avenue, Passaic Street and Pleasant Avenue.

Proposed Route 17 improvements

..... Improvements called for the latest plan include:
* An additional (third) travel lane with a 12-foot-wide outside shoulder and a 3-foot minimum inside shoulder in both directions.
* Replace Betterment of six bridges with four new bridges and more than a mile of retaining walls.
* A new Route 17 southbound exit ramp to Central A Venue
* Modified Route 17 northbound exit and entrance ramps at Mildred Avenue.
* A now signalized intersection at Farview Avenue and the Route 17 southbound exit and entrance ramps.
* A new signalized intersection at Passaic Street and the Route 17 northbound exit ramp.
* Complex utility relocations calculating gas, electric and communications.
* New storm-water management basins.* Improved local street connectivity.

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