Motorists who frequently travel along Tonnelle Avenue already know it. So do the parents who try to get their children to McKinley School in time for the first bell. The police department is certainly aware, as is the state Department of Transportation.
In case you were one of the few unfortunate local souls who didn’t know, the major renovation and construction of Tonnelle Avenue began recently, causing a nuisance in the area.
The project, which will take two full years to complete, will result in an overpass that will allow motorists to go over the train tracks on Paterson Plank Road, instead of waiting for train traffic to pass.
For now, Tonnelle Avenue (also known as State Highway Routes 1 & 9), near Union Turnpike and 39th streets, is a construction nightmare, complete with cranes and pay-loaders. Dirt and debris is everywhere. Trees are being dug from the ground. It best resembles a bombed-out town in World War II.
There is also no end in sight to the construction and the traffic woes that the work has caused. According to state DOT officials, the work is expected to continue until June of 2002, so you better get used to the headaches.
“It’s definitely a headache,” said North Bergen Police Chief Angelo Busacco last week. “But it’s not a migraine. It’s controllable. We just have to be extra careful, especially with all the schoolchildren there. But we’re working hard to make sure that the area stays safe.”
Anticipating that the construction would cause its share of troubles, Busacco and Lt. Gary Richmond of the North Bergen Police’s Traffic Bureau held several meetings to discuss a strategy to ensure the flow of traffic is maintained while the safety of the area is enforced.
The construction crews have hired at least three off-duty North Bergen police officers daily to ensure the safety and the traffic flows.
“Right now, there hasn’t been more volume than normal,” Richmond said. “So I’d have to say that we have things under control, as best as possible. Right now, we have officers who are regularly working details throughout the construction. The main concern has always been the schoolchildren and buses. There might have been some troubles and confusion when the construction first started (two weeks ago), but everyone pretty much is aware of it now.”
Currently, the exit ramp from the Route 495 viaduct down to Tonnelle Avenue is closed. Only one lane of traffic is open along Tonnelle Avenue and Union Turnpike at intervals. Both of these obstacles are expected to remain this way for over a year.
NJ Transit is footing the bill for the construction project as part of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System. NJ Transit had to reroute the current freight train lines just west of Tonnelle in order to prepare for the Light Rail.
“No question, right now, it’s an inconvenience,” Township Administrator Joseph Auriemma said last week. “But it’s going to eventually lead to a $60 million overpass, over the trains. No one will ever have to sit there and wait for a train to pass ever again. I think the state DOT has been commendable, working hard to remain within the time frame. It’s going to be a major benefit for all of us. I’ve had ongoing interaction with the DOT and they’re committed to getting the project done on time. It’s an inconvenience now, but a benefit later on.”
Added Richmond: “It’s been slow moving, but it’s normally slow. I haven’t received many complaints about traffic through my office. It’s everyone’s concern to make sure that the traffic continues to flow under the circumstances.”
Richmond said that he will continue to meet with the Secaucus police about the traffic flow coming into North Bergen from Paterson Plank Road.
“We’re all working together,” Richmond said.