April 17, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah NJDOT to repair Macarthur Boulevard Bridge by Frank J. McMahon The New Jersey Department of Transportation held a pre-construction public information meeting last week in Mahwah’s Richard J. Martel Municipal Building to describe the work that will be done to the bridge, which spans Route 17 at the base of Macarthur Boulevard. Exhibits of the proposed project were available and residents and business owners were given the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns they may have about the project with NJDOT staff members. Anyone who was unable to attend the meeting but wants to learn more about this project may contact Deborah Hirt of the NJDOT Office of Community Relations at (609) 530-2110 or Deborah.Hirt@dot.state.nj.us. The existing bridge was constructed in 1956. The bridge is part of the interchange that provides access to Macarthur Boulevard, Island Road, and North Central Avenue from Route 17. Due to the serious condition of the bridge deck, the NJDOT believes the structure is structurally deficient and, in order to remove the bridge from the deficient category, the agency recommends the replacement of the bridge deck. According to Hirt, the bridge is also considered functionally obsolete due to its substandard vertical underclearance. The bridge deck will be replaced within the limits of the existing deck, and no widening or expansion will be performed. There will be minimal approach roadway work along Central Avenue and Island Road, which will include asphalt paving, curb reconstruction, and guide rail upgrades, which are also proposed along the existing Route 17 ramps. Hirt also said the existing guide rail system does not meet the current NJDOT standards. As a result, the final design includes new guide rail attachments to the bridge. She added that she does not anticipate any impacts to the right of way, access, or environmental resources, and no other construction is proposed for other local roadways in the vicinity of the bridge. Hirt said the project will be constructed in two main stages, and two-way car traffic will be maintained on the bridge during construction. Truck traffic and school buses will be detoured. Westbound truck and school bus traffic will be detoured to Route 17 North to the West Ramapo Avenue interchange for a U-turn onto Route 17 South back to the Island Road interchange. Eastbound truck and school bus traffic will be detoured to Route 17 South to the North Franklin Turnpike interchange for a U-turn onto Route 17 North back to Island Road. Detour signs will remain in place for the duration of construction and night-time lane closures on Route 17 are anticipated during the construction, which is expected to begin this week with signage changes and is anticipated to last until May 2014. The township may also experience potential traffic tieups due to the two-month drainage pipe installation project planned for this summer on West Airmount Road. That road leads to Island Road through a single-lane railroad underpass. Mayor William Laforet expressed concern about the potential traffic congestion in the township because of these projects at a recent council meeting. He acknowledged that both projects are expected to involve the prohibition or restriction of traffic in highly traveled roads for extended periods of time. “It will be a coordinated symphony,” Laforet told the council. Although he said he thinks they have the best plan to handle the traffic, he added, “It’s going to be a mess.” Councilman John Spiech agreed that there will be a lot of road closings at the same time, and it will be difficult to get across town and get to the schools on Ridge Road. Councilman John Roth said, however, that he is confident that the West Airmount Road project, which will prevent traffic from crossing from one side of the township to the other during the time it must be closed for the construction, will be completed by the time that school opens in September. He said the township is coordinating with the school district and businesses concerning that closure. According to Michael Kelly of Boswell McClave Engineering, the township’s engineering firm, the preliminary work on the West Airmount Road construction will begin in June and will require that the road be closed for about two months once the schools are closed for the summer. The project could be completed by the end of August before the schools reopen for the 2013-14 school year, he said. Kelly said the design work for the West Airmount Road drainage improvement has been completed and bids for the project are expected to be received in May. The contract would be awarded soon thereafter.