Key flyover ramp opens on Route 4 and 17 interchange
Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein today joined state, county and local officials to cut the ribbon for the Route 17 southbound flyover ramp to Route 4 eastbound. The ramp is considered a critical traffic move within the interchange and eliminates the 66-year old loop ramp that has plagued motorists for decades.
"Before this century is out, we’ll have a terrific new interchange to serve as the crossroad of the region," Governor Christie Whitman said. "With each new component that opens, we’re making life a little easier for all the daily commuters who have long endured the traffic headaches caused by an obsolete interchange."
"This project continues to make outstanding progress," Commissioner Weinstein said. "Today’s opening of the flyover ramp finally consigns the old loop ramp to the ash heap. I know that for the 285,000 motorists who use the interchange everyday, this is a welcomed milestone."
Most of the new interchange will open to traffic by Thanksgiving of this year. The flyover ramp connection from Route 17 northbound to Route 4 westbound is scheduled to open by Christmas.
Built in 1932 as a state of the art cloverleaf, the Route 4 and 17 interchange is a main transportation connector for one of the most densely-populated regions in the Northeast. The $120 million overhaul of the interchange began in October of 1998.
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