Politics & Government

DOT Debriefs Public on Route 22 Overpass Project

Representatives were at the Scotch Plains municipal building Thursday.

Traffic is among the top concerns from residents about the Department of Transportation's final plans for the Route 22 Park Avenue/Bonnie Burn Road project.

Residents and local officials met with DOT representatives at the Scotch Plains Municipal Building Thursday afternoon to get a better understanding of what the project, which is slated to break ground in January, will entail.

The plan is scheduled to take a little over a year-and-a-half, with a goal of substantial completion by October 2011. During that time, there will be temporary periods in which lanes on the overpass from Scotch Plains to Route 22 West will be reduced and when parts of Bonnie Burn Road will be shut down altogether.

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While some in attendance said they weren't looking forward to dealing with the construction woes, they also expressed concern about the overall impact the changes will have once they're complete.

The project will set out to widen the intersection of Park Avenue and Sunset Place with the Route 22 overpass, providing additional lanes for turning and adding a traffic signal to regulate the flow of traffic. As it stands now, those who are turning from Park Avenue onto the overpass have to get over to the right lane relatively quickly if they intend to get on Route 22 West. When the project is complete, drivers will make that left turn and have the option of getting into two lanes, one for those intending to stay straight and the other for those headed to Route 22 who need to get over. That will in total create three lanes at the entrance of the overpass, which will then merge back into two.

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In addition, at the intersection of Bonnie Burn Road and New Providence Road, several lanes will be added to accommodate those turning or continuing straight. No lanes will be added to the overpass itself, nor will any work be done on the bridge.

Mayor Nancy Malool raised the question of what impact the new traffic signal at the end of Park Avenue could have on traffic downtown, which is already heavy during rush hour.

"If there is a significant increase, does Scotch Plains have a say?" she asked.

Babulal Dhulesia, the project manager, said that the signal should only help alleviate traffic in the area, as it well help regulate those coming off Route 22 and getting on it.

Still, some wondered what impact it could have on areas like that near Park Middle School, where it's already difficult at times for the crossing guard to stop traffic. If it improves flow, one woman said, it may make it even harder to bring it to a halt, or to pull out of parking spots up and down Park Avenue.

The plans are the final phase of design for the project, which has been years in the making and is being funded through federal grants. NJDOT recently hired Green Construction Co. to carry it out. Dhulesia said Green could suggest adjustments to the plan if they deemed it necessary, but that overall the project should stay intact as it was shown Thursday.

The project is planned for three phases. Dhulesia said work in January will mostly include preparing the site and grading it. Actual construction is expected to begin in March. The second phase is when lane closures will really start to occur. For a period, the Route 22 overpass will be reduced to one lane in either direction. Phase two is also when parts of Bonnie Burn Road will be closed off altogether, forcing drivers to take a planned detour.

"The contractor's schedule is very ambitious," said Bob Morley, engineer on the project. "He's looking to consolidate 22 months into 14."

In addition to the traffic adjustments, the project also includes rehabilitation of the Green Brook Culvert retaining walls at the overpass; construction of three detention basins and drainage pipes to comply with the NJDEP Storm Water Regulations and to address the deficiencies in the existing systems; construction of curbing, guide rails and landscaping; and utility relocation.

Those with further questions, DOT says, should contact Meredith Hammond from the department's Office of Community Relations, at 609-530-4555 or meredith.hammond@dot.state.nj.us.


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