Easier travel and an improved local economy are two of the expected results of the $310 million New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s Interchange 14A Improvement Project, which broke ground on Wednesday, March 10, according to officials.
City, county, and state representatives gathered at 51st Street and Avenue E underneath the turnpike connector ramp to Route 440 to shovel piles of soil and explain what the expected three-year project will mean for Bayonne, Jersey City, and other destinations.
Bayonne Mayor James Davis, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Vivian Brady-Phillips, County Executive Thomas DeGise, State Sen. Sandra Cunningham, New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Jamie Foxx, and New Jersey Turnpike Executive Director Joe Mrozek were among the attendees.
“This is a great day for the city of Bayonne.” – Mayor James Davis
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City Council President Sharon Nadrowski and Councilmen Thomas Cotter, Salvatore Gullace, Gary La Pelusa, and Juan Perez also represented the city.
“This is a great day for the city of Bayonne,” Davis said. “This will allow us to develop the [former] Military Ocean Terminal and will allow our city to grow.”
Davis thanked county and state officials who worked hard to get the project funded and started.
“This will have a tremendous impact for Jersey City,” said Brady-Phillips, representing Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.
Brady-Phillips said Jersey City was seeing “tremendous growth” and that the reconstruction of the turnpike exchange, which is partially on Jersey City land, will mean much for her town.
“Thanks to all those here for making this happen and for this investment,” she said.
Foxx said the Interchange 14A project was important because the state needs to invest in its urban areas.
“This will help the quality of life continue in the state,” he said.
Additional praise
Nicholas Chiaravalloti, candidate for the New Jersey Assembly 31st District seat, attended the groundbreaking and released a statement after the event.
“In order for us to maintain the most advanced transportation network in the country, we must continue to invest in infrastructure, such as Interchange 14A, to maintain that competitive advantage,” he said. “Whether it’s the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, NJ Transit or the state Department of Transportation, each of these transportation agencies recognizes the critical role Bayonne plays in delivering people, goods, and services to New Jersey’s 8.5 million residents.”
Improvements
When completed, the toll plaza will be widened from 11 to 13 lanes, and the existing two-lane connector bridge will be replaced with a four-lane structure.
A traffic signal at East 53rd Street in Bayonne will be removed and replaced with a roundabout which is expected to make entry and exit from the interchange easier and quicker.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.