Here's Why 2nd And 4th Streets In Secaucus Changed Direction

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Friday, the Secaucus Police Department abruptly announced that two streets in town have new traffic direction: 2nd Street is now one way towards Centre Avenue, and 4th Street was changed from previously being a two-way street to now being a one-way street also going towards Centre.

However, the Secaucus Police Department did not say why the changes were made, leaving many in town scratching their heads, or simply curious as to why the changes were made.

Now, direct from Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli, here is the reason:

"They had a lot of accidents on 4th Street; that's why we switched it. This had nothing to do with the new supermarket that's coming or anything else I've been hearing," said Gonnelli on Monday morning. "This has been planned and in the works for many, many months now. It was some time ago — many months ago — that the Secaucus Police Dept. Traffic Division came to the town and requested the roads to be changed."

Gonnelli said the roads simply made no sense the way they were before: 1st, 2nd and 3rd streets all were one-way out towards Flanagan, and 4th Street was a two-way street.

Secaucus Police traffic officers simply wanted to make the streets flow in a more uniform manner, he said.

Now that the change has been made, the residential streets alternate: 1st Street is one way out towards Flanagan Way, 2nd Street is one way in towards Centre, 3rd Street is one way out and 4th Street is one way in.

"It just had to be made more uniform," said the mayor. "This has really been planned for months. We did a traffic study."

Also, Gonnelli said he personally walked up and down 2nd and 4th streets before the change was made, knocking on doors and asking residents if they minded if the street directions were changed. With the exception of two residents, he said most on 2nd and 4th streets were OK with it.