Paramus begins improvements on busy intersection. Here's what's being done
Roadway improvements to one of Paramus’ busiest intersections at Forest Avenue and Spring Valley Road will take months to complete but aim to improve safety for both motorists and students who walk to nearby schools.
The work on the intersection started a week ago. It has no specified end date, but is expected to take a few months to complete. Construction began after school ended to limit disruption for students, Mayor Chris DiPiazza said.
The improvements will widen the roadways, rehabilitate existing sidewalks, install ADA-compliant curb ramps, add additional sidewalks and install left turn lanes and signals. The two roads will also be milled and paved, crosswalks will be restriped and traffic signals will be upgraded with countdown signs and pedestrian push buttons, said DiPiazza.
Crosswalk improvements for the intersection are especially important as students walking to nearby East Brook Middle School and Paramus High School from that side of town usually need to cross these streets, said DiPiazza.
Who's paying?
The project is funded by a $1.2 million New Jersey Department of Transportation grant. The borough would pull funds from its capital budget if expenses exceed $1.2 million, the mayor added.
“Forest Avenue is one of, if not the, busiest roads in the county and the improvement will continue to help the flow of traffic as more residents and businesses come to Paramus,” said DiPiazza. “It’s our goal to keep improving every main intersection at least once a year.”
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How to track Paramus road closures
According to the borough planning board's engineering firm, Neglia Engineering, 15,000 to 20,000 cars per day used Forest Avenue in a recent NJDOT count.
Construction will necessitate closures at the intersection as the project moves forward; residents can keep up to date with these shutdowns on the Paramus Police Facebook page, said DiPiazza.
Which intersections are next?
Looking ahead to next year, the intersection of Farview and Midland avenues is under consideration for upgrades with the help of a $250,000 state grant, according to the mayor. Improvements to the Oradell and Forest avenues crossing are another possibility in the future, which could be a joint venture with Oradell, he said.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: noda@northjersey.com Twitter/X: @snoda11
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paramus NJ begins improvements on busy intersection
