The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward for a group of three intersection safety improvement projects on East Front Street (County Road 620) and 7th Avenue (County Road 601) in the City of Plainfield.
The work will include new traffic signals with audible pedestrian signals and push buttons.
The federally funded upgrades are designed to improve pedestrian safety while easing traffic congestion. All three projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
“These three projects demonstrate the vital role that federal funding plays in the economic health of our communities. Plainfield is a center of commerce in the region, and these improvements will enable local residents, visitors, business owners and their employees to navigate the city streets with greater ease, while also improving the flow of through traffic,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It’s also important to note that the upgrades will help improve access for seniors and people with disabilities.”
“By helping Plainfield to become a more walkable and bike-able city, these improvements will encourage our residents to get out and about, patronize local businesses, and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment for all,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, a longtime resident of Plainfield. “All together, these three projects will make a significant difference in the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.”
Officials say one of the projects involves four intersections on East Front Street, at Sandford Avenue, Watchung Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue, and Norwood Avenue/Richmond Street. The estimated cost of construction is $1.1 million. Work on that project is expected to begin in the summer of 2020.
The work includes:
New traffic signals poles, foundation, mast arms, signal heads, video image detection, traffic controllers with battery power backup equipment, and junction boxes to improve overall operational safety.
New ADA compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces, pedestrian push buttons and pedestrian countdown traffic signals, high visibility crosswalks, and the installation and replacement of regulatory, warning and pedestrian signs.
Milling and paving of the roadway surface of each intersection.
Similar improvements are slated for a second project, which will upgrade the intersection of West Seventh Street with Central Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Plainfield Avenue. This project is expected to begin work in the spring of 2019 with an estimated construction cost of $785,000.
The third project includes improvements for one additional intersection on East Front Street at Leland Avenue, and four additional intersections on West 7th Street at Leland Avenue, Woodland Avenue, Berckman Street, and Arlington Avenue, for a total estimated cost of $2.9 million.
The design phase for this project is expected to begin in the spring of 2019.
The three projects were approved through the Local Safety Program, an initiative of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Funding for the Local Safety Program comes from the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvements Program.
A public comment period on the East Front Street project involving four intersections is still open. The deadline for commenting is Friday, December 21, 2018.
Written comments or requests for additional information may be sent to the Project Manager, Raymond L. Sullivan, by email to rsullivan@ucnj.org, fax to 908-789-3674, or by US Post to the Union County Engineering Building, 2325 South Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.