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Work near complete at Totowa/Riverview
(by Tom Boud - December 11, 2007)
There’s good news for drivers in the Totowa and Wayne border area.
The Totowa Road/Riverview Drive intersection project in Wayne is currently about 90 percent complete. The upgrade is on track for its scheduled spring completion. With utility relocation winding down, the contractor — Ritacco of Belleville — will be resuming construction activity during the week of Dec. 2, according to Dolores Choteborsky, Passaic County information officer.
On Nov. 8, 2006, Ritacco began the modernization endeavor. The labor also included streamlining intersections from Edison Road and Riverview Drive north to Parish Drive and French Hill Road. The improvements included turn lane additions, traffic light modifications, and brook bridge widenings.
At Totowa Road and Riverview Drive, Choteborsky said the wire shifting — involving PSE&G, Verizon, and Cablevision — proceeded as expected.
“The contractor was expected to stop work. It had to do with the utilities, which are three different ones.”
She said that Ritacco, upon restarting, will tend to drainage work and traffic signal installation. She said that additional roadway activity is to be performed as well.
“The lanes are not configured to the final layout until the utility poles are removed, and the final paving is done.”
An afternoon visit last Friday to the intersection showed the job was mostly complete. A traffic signal pole with wrapped light fixtures was seen, along with a sawhorsed right turn ramp. Some Edison Road area remaining wire repositioning remained to be done. Besides that, all other major activity appeared to be finished.
John Reardon — Wayne deputy police chief — said vehicle flow has improved through the area.
“During the heavier phase of construction, it was jammed up, but it’s moving easier now.”
Reardon said car accidents in that vicinity have not been problematic.
“I really have not seen anything out of the ordinary.”
The deputy chief added the road revamp will bring relief to many motorists. He said the multi-intersection zone gets plenty of activity.
“That’s always a tough spot. There’s a lot of traffic during the morning and evening rush hour.”
Councilman John Waryas – a local transportation issue monitor – spoke about the Totowa/Riverview crossroads project. He said the overhaul has already made a difference to the intersection.
“The sight lines are much better, and the traffic flows through there much freer.”
Waryas said the vehicle passage will be even smoother, once the traffic light becomes operational. He also said the junction, although in Wayne, is very relevant to Totowa residents.
“A lot of people do shop and visit Wayne and commute back and forth.” The councilman added that Route 23 access and DePaul High School also put additional Totowa originating volume on the namesake road.
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