With at least four major infrastructure programs underway in Bayonne or its vicinity, drivers coming into the city say they are frustrated by the lack of signs and other communications that should be available to apprise them of the projects and of the work being done on any given day.
A Union County driver who travels through the area each day to get to work in Hoboken, and who stops in Bayonne one day a week on business, said that from the New Jersey Turnpike (NJT) Exchange 14 in Newark into Bayonne there are no signs preparing motorists for the construction. This includes Exit 14, the Newark Bay Extension via the Casciano Bridge, toll plaza 14A, the turnpike connector bridge to Route 440, and up to Route 440 itself, he said.
“It’s very frustrating.” – Leonard Kiczek
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The city currently has two ongoing renovation projects: the Bayonne Bridge “Raise the Roadway” project, to be completed in 2018, and the recently begun NJT Interchange 14A Improvement Project.
Also underway are projects to repair the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City, not far from Bayonne’s northern end, and the Goethals Bridge, which connects Elizabeth with Staten Island. The Goethals has been an alternate route into Bayonne in instances when the Bayonne Bridge is completely shut down for renovations.
Drivers said that armed with the knowledge of the various projects and work schedules they would alter their commute to Bayonne or points east to avoid traffic backups.
Former Bayonne Mayor Leonard Kiczek, who now lives in Long Branch but still maintains a law practice in Bayonne, voiced a similar concern about what he said were governmental agencies not working together and not adequately notifying the public about renovations.
“It’s very frustrating,” Kiczek said of his commute, which can sometimes be increased by 50 percent or more because of extra traffic he attributed to the combination of the turnpike and bridge projects.
Kiczek said he’s avoided turnpike traffic by traveling through Staten Island to Bayonne, only to sometimes discover that the bridge is closed.
Camille LaGatta of Chatham said the traffic on Sunday, May 3, from NJT Exchange 14 in Newark to Bayonne was heavy; the only indication of any work being done was the traffic backup itself.
“I didn’t see a single construction sign, nothing,” she said. “The only sign of construction was when I got off at 14A, and there were two workers in the road.”
After seeing several lanes of traffic merge into a single lane – and her drive time to Bayonne triple – she said she couldn’t understand why the shoulder on the Casciano Bridge was not opened.
Kiczek said he understood that Mayor James Davis was attempting to coordinate traffic closures with the Turnpike and Port Authority to lessen traffic.
Making suggestions
Nicholas Chiaravalloti, a candidate for one of two 31st District Assembly seats, urged the government agencies involved with the various projects to come up with a solution.
“One-hour delays to cross the Turnpike Bridge are simply unacceptable,” he said in a written statement. “We need DOT, the Turnpike Authority, and the Port Authority to all get on the same page.”
Chiaravalloti made several recommendations, including opening the shoulders on the eastbound and westbound sides of the interchange, deploying law-enforcement officers to direct traffic, and employing electronic message signs to provide real-time updates.
Using different means
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey spokesman Rudy King said his agency does use variable message signs when they do construction, as well as employing a number of other communications methods, including advertisements and press releases in newspapers, website postings, Twitter alerts, and a toll-free, 24-hour number, (855) 265-5482.
King said the Port Authority meets biweekly with police, fire, and emergency management officials to discuss bridge closures, 20-minute traffic “holds,” and detours.
“More recently we’ve been working with the city of Bayonne and with the NJTA regarding the Newark Bay Bridge,” King said. “And in those cases, our team members meet with regional agencies.”
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.