Morris County Officials Ask for Patience and Cooperation Regarding Sussex Turnpike Project

As Morris County engineers look to remain on schedule to finish the current Sussex Turnpike improvement project by the end of summer, county officials are reaching out to the community to help make the process easier on every one--mostly by reducing traffic congestion.

“We know this is an inconvenience for county residents, including many people who use Sussex Turnpike to commute to and from work or are driving to the county seat in Morristown,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “We have asked out engineering team to do everything they can to reduce delays. But please remember, this is a major construction project on a very busy roadway, so we ask for your patience,’’ she added.

In an effort to better inform commuters and residents, Morris County administrators and freeholders worked with county engineers to produce a list of measures that will help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow while the project is ongoing.

The following is from a July 26 press release by Morris County Administrator, John Bonanni, detailing the steps the county plans to take to help curb congestion caused by the improvement efforts:

• The timing of a new traffic signal at the new Sussex Turnpike and West Hanover Avenue intersection is being tweaked. An additional video detection camera was installed last week and it allows the signal to give more flow time to traffic at the most busy approach to the intersection, to offer the best possible traffic flow.
• Utility poles will be removed in the next few weeks to allow for the creation of turning lanes at that intersection.
• West Hanover Avenue approaching Sussex Turnpike has been re-striped to one left/through lane and one right turn lane, and a right turn arrow signal has been installed.
• Two Randolph municipal utility projects – a sewer line project and a water main project -- that require road closings and detours that impact daytime traffic flow on Sussex Turnpike will have working hours changed. One will have daytime hours reduced and the other must change to night-time work hours, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The Sussex Turnpike project is aimed at improving roadway safety as well as reducing traffic congestion along a road that is a crucial artery for many Morris County residents. Costing $4.7 million, the roadway project is an ambitious attempt to modernize and improve local infrastructure, and is the end result of decades of planning and negotiation. Initially, the planning to improve the Sussex Turnpike began in the 1970's as a NJ Department of Transportation project but was recently transferred to Morris County.

With the federal government footing $4.5 million of the bill, Morris County is spending a mere $122,600 to cover the cost of police handling traffic, liability insurance, and the relocation of a fire hydrant. As for the improvements being made to the Sussex Turnpike, a July 20 press release from the Morris County Administrator's Office lists the following:

• The intersection of Sussex Turnpike and Dover-Chester Road will be widened to accommodate left turn lanes on all approaches. A new traffic signal will be installed. Pedestrian ramps that can accommodate persons with disabilities will be installed.
• At the intersection of Sussex Turnpike and Calais Road, Sussex Turnpike will be widened to allow for installation of a westbound left turn lane into Calais Road. Calais Road will be realigned to form a 90 degree intersection with Sussex Turnpike. Underground signal equipment will be installed for a potential future traffic signal.
• The section of Sussex Turnpike between Harvey Terrace and West Hanover Avenue will be widened to accommodate left turn lanes at intersections.
• The traffic signal at Sussex Turnpike and Millbrook Avenue will be replaced and pedestrian ramps that can accommodate persons with disabilities will be installed.
• West Hanover Avenue will be realigned to intersect Sussex Turnpike directly across from Brookside Road. Approximately 800 feet of West Hanover Avenue will be relocated to install this improvement.
• A new traffic signal will be installed at the West Hanover Avenue, Brookside Road and Sussex Turnpike interconnection. Pedestrian ramps that can accommodate persons with disabilities will be installed.
• The existing drainage system along Sussex Avenue will be modified. A new detention basin will be constructed where West Hanover Avenue now intersects with Sussex Turnpike.

For view a map of the project, please visit: http://morrisdot.org/projects/sussextpke.asp