Belleville Gives Update On Washington Avenue Construction Work

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The road work on Washington Avenue in Belleville is chugging along, and yes – the area in front of the middle school will be clear of construction by the time school starts, town officials say.

The construction project – which is being done by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) on a state-run section of roadway – has been raising a stink among a growing number of residents and local business owners. Read More: Chaos On Washington; Belleville Traffic ‘Nightmare’ Continues

The NJDOT is reconstructing and paving about two miles of roadway on Washington Avenue/Route 7 in Belleville and Nutley. Other work will include intersection improvements, drainage and traffic signal upgrades, and ADA-compliant pedestrian safety upgrades.

The $20 million federally funded project will take place in several phases, and will take about three years to complete, according to the NJDOT.

Here’s the latest update, according to a statement from the township issued on Friday:

“The NJDOT is wrapping up the second section of the first stage of the Washington Avenue construction project. Today, they began to remove the concrete barriers on Washington Avenue. The roadway should be completely reopen on Monday, August 26, 2024. They will start construction again on or about September 3, 2024 (weather permitting) on Washington Avenue from Rossmore Place to Division Avenue. Each section should take approximately 15 days to complete. The area in front of our middle school will be clear of any construction by the time school starts. Please continue to monitor this site as well as the Police Department's social media page for updates on this project. As always, thank you for your patience during this time.”

Earlier this week, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham had this to say about the traffic situation on Washington Avenue:

“Approximately every 15 days, the temporary concrete barricades will be moved north, and another section of the center road will be milled and paved. Over the next several months, the striping on the roadway will continue to change. At times, it will remain a four-lane road; other times, it will shift to three lanes with a shared center turning lane, and it may return to four lanes again. To clarify, the final result will be a three-lane roadway with a shared center turning lane and bike lanes on either side. What I can share at this time is that the DOT has promised us the part of Washington Avenue in front of the Middle School will be cleared out before school starts. As I continually emphasize, this is a state DOT project. Belleville had no say in the design or final product, as Washington Avenue is a state highway.”

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