Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor James Solomon are thanking Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) for backing the one-bridge concept for the Newark Bay Bridge they advocated for last month.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Governor Sherrill is showing true, community-led leadership. Today’s decision acknowledges that the previous proposal would’ve opened the floodgates of heavy traffic through communities that already bear a high burden of traffic and air pollution,” they said in a joint statement.
“For years, our communities fought against a seriously ill-conceived plan while proposing serious alternatives. It took Governor Sherrill’s leadership to listen and act in the best interest of the people of New Jersey.”
The mayors of the Garden State’s two largest cities appealed to Sherrill in a February 6th letter, emphasizing that it would be far more cost effective and create less pollution, among other things, than the initial two-bridge plan, as only HCV reported.
“The Governor’s announcement is a major step in the direction of smart transportation policy that upgrades aging infrastructure, while addressing the needs of impacted communities,” Baraka and Solomon added.
“For years, dedicated community activists have campaigned for this reasonable solution. This win for our community is a testament to their hard work of building a coalition across the region.”
Their stance is the same as that of 65 advocacy groups, collectively known as the Turnpike Trap Coalition, who wrote to Sherrill last week.
“ … This $6.7 billion investment will be the largest single project the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has ever advanced. It involves the immediate construction of a four-lane bridge with shoulders and improvements,” Sherrill said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, with her comment about the four-lane bridge indicating the two bridge proposal is dead.
“I am also recommending that the Turnpike Board continue to advance design and permitting work on the roadway structures leading to the Holland Tunnel for safety improvements only, without expanding capacity.”
She also called for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to require a Project Labor Agreement for the project, which is part of the larger $10.7 billion Turnpike widening effort.
 for backing the one-bridge concept for the Newark Bay Bridge they advocated for last month.){kind=link}
This new plan doesn’t address the current massive frequent back-ups at Exit 14-A due the heavy truck traffic coming from Port Jersey and the many Bayonne warehouses, especially during rush hours. The bridge should be at least 3 lanes in both directions, instead of 2 lanes in both directions, to alleviate the congestion from Exit 14A. It is therefore very hard to justify the State spending billions of dollars for just another 4 lane bridge, without even considering or addressing this congestion problem.
There is another racket brewing as we speak, John. Eastern Spur is past the lifespan, ready to collapse, and being secretly patched on regular basis. Patch job like you do in your basement. Set to be surprise multi billion emergency project with no bid contracts. Right under your nose.
Instead of recycling someones press releases, why don’t you do boots on the ground reporting? Just pay a visit to Laurel Hill Park, stroll around the south corner just under the turnpike, and see for yourself. Take a hardhat with you.