Letter: NJDOT Must Answer Questions Regarding I-80 Construction

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted to Patch by Lake Parsippany resident Mary Purzycki. If you would like to submit a Letter to the Editor, send it to

The following questions need to be answered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

I have shared these questions, along with concerns, to the mayor, deputy chief of police and township council.

1. Exactly what route will the construction vehicles use to travel to and from the Littleton Road/Route 202 North staging area to ? Please have it shown on a map.
2. Why is it that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Chief Engineer Rick Raczynski recognizes the importance of a shoulder on the side of the road and the NJDOT does not?

The Newark Star Ledger of Aug. 15, 2012, has an article quoting Rick Raczynski about the safety of a shoulder lane.

He states, “Without having that safety net, that asphalt safety net called a shoulder, you really lose control of your car very quickly as soon as your tires hit the grass. The lack of shoulders also has led to secondary accidents. Emergency services vehicles also have a hard time reaching accidents on the narrow roadway.” 

It seems the NJDOT chief engineers, the Union Paving & Construction Company, department spokesman Tim Greeley and staff member Alex Borovskis don’t agree with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's chief engineer. They eliminated the shoulder on Littleton Road without consideration for the safety of commuters and area residents.

It seems that whatever fits the construction company’s plan for the moment is right, to heck with the quality of life and safety of commuters and area residents.

Mary Purzycki
Lake Parsippany