DiFrancesco Visits Routes 4
and 208 Project in Bergen County

Project One of Seven Valued at
$337 Million to Improve Roads in Bergen

"Traffic congestion has become a constant source of frustration for our commuters. A project like this one, which will improve safety and traffic flow on one of the busiest interchanges in Bergen County, is so important to the people who live and work here," Acting Governor DiFrancesco said. "This project, along with others in the NJDOT's project pipeline, will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for Bergen County residents and everyone who uses our roads."

"Well over 100,000 motorists a day use the Routes 4 and 208 merge," Commissioner Weinstein said. "The work we will undertake at this location will improve conditions overall and provide for easier access to the Garden State Parkway. We have other work scheduled for the county in our project pipeline over the next few years and, with input from local citizens and officials, have developed a program to keep our impacts to a minimum on the traveling public."

The Routes 4 and 208 project consists of the complete reconfiguration of the merge. It includes separation of Route 4 eastbound express and local traffic by creating new Route 4 local and express roadways, a new Route 208 local roadway, shoulders and the lengthening of the eastbound acceleration and deceleration lane.

A new bridge will be built to carry the Route 4 eastbound express lanes over Route 208 and the bridge-carrying Route 208 over Saddle River Road will be rehabilitated. The project also calls for resurfacing, new signing, and upgraded drainage. The contractor for the federally funded project is Bishop-Sanzari-Creamer of Hackensack, NJ, who was awarded the $32 million job in November 2000.

In addition to the Routes 4 and 208 project, there are seven other projects in Bergen County designed to improve travel underway or scheduled to start between now and 2004. These projects, including the Routes 4 and 208 merge, are valued at $337 million and will make significant improvements to I-80, Route 4, Route 17 and Route 46. A project list and timeline are attached.

"We know how important these projects are and at the same time we know that the work will cause disruptions along already heavily traveled roads," Commissioner Weinstein said. "To assist motorists and commuters as these projects get underway, the NJDOT and NJ Transit have developed a mitigation plan to promote the easiest and safest way through the construction, including additional bus service, vanpools, shuttles and new signage."

In addition to funding the reconfiguration, the Federal Highway Administration is also providing funding for additional bus services, shuttles to Fair Lawn train station, vanpool incentives and new commuter-friendly signs.

NJDOT and NJ Transit will continually update construction traffic information through its web pages and over the telephone, as well as though radio traffic reports and variable message signs at the construction sites.