For the first time, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) vocalized support for the $4.7 billion New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s widening project extension near the Holland Tunnel during an appearance on News 12’s “Ask Gov. Murphy” last night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“My personal and strong opinion is this is where the world’s headed: we’re the mostly populated state in America so getting the environment right, automobiles right is at the top of the list: it’s a very meaningful incentive,” Murphy said during the program.
” … It’s where the world’s headed: I get asked all the time ‘why are you widening the turnpike?’ Folks when they have these conversations, they’re thinking of what cars have been like, not what they will be like … It’s quite ambitious, it’s needed.”
Last week, the Hoboken City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the project, with their counterparts in Jersey City set to do the same at their meeting tomorrow evening.
In response, Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative Director Mark Longo slammed the opposition and was quite strongly worded in his statement.
“We all wish to wave the magic wand so traffic would disappear, pollution would not exist, and unicorns would safely stroll down Washington or Grove Street,” he said in part.
The three-phase proposal would begin by widening the extension to four lanes in both directions.
From there, they would widen 14A to Columbus Drive in Jersey City to three lanes, while the third and final phase would replace elevated structures from Columbus Drive to Jersey Avenue.