22 Feb ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS ARE INSTALLED AT TWO INTERSECTIONS ALONG BROADWAY IN NEWARK Improvements will enhance pedestrian and motor vehicle safety in front of two Public Schools
Published on February 22, 2022
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that new traffic signal equipment was installed at the intersections of Broadway & Carteret Street and Broadway and Kearny Street in Newark’s North Ward on Tuesday, February 22nd. The intersection upgrades are part of the County’s ongoing initiative to modernize infrastructure to enhance pedestrian and motor vehicle safety and to meet the changing needs of the community.
“Installing traffic signals at these two intersections was important because public schools are located at both locations. Hundreds of students from elementary to high school ages walk on these streets on their way to and from school. The presence of traffic signals makes it easier for them to get to school and cross the street more safely,” DiVincenzo said. “This project also demonstrates what different levels of government can accomplish when we work together,” he said, noting that NJ Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz brought the need to improve the intersection to his attention.
The traffic signal installations represent significant improvements because there are public schools at each location: Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School is at the intersection of Broadway & Carteret Street and Newark Technology High School is at the intersection of Broadway & Kearny Street.
“Every morning I would call our public works department about the need for a light in front of these two schools. This project shows what happens when people listen,” Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said. “This is being done for the safety of our children. It’s an example of what can be accomplished with every level of government works together,” Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said. “As a mother of four, the last thing we want parents to worry about is the safety of their children going to and from school. With these new traffic signals, they will be able to cross Broadway more easily,” Assemblywoman Shanique Speight said.
“Thank you to Joe DiVincenzo for putting the safety of children first. The students will greatly benefit from this,” Newark City Council President Luis Quintana said. “These are definitely two of the busiest drop off and pick up locations at any of our public schools. This is a big investment in traffic safety that will help in a big way,” North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos said.
“The traffic signal in front of Luis Munoz Marin School means a lot to the students and their families. This will increase student safety and decrease the amount of anxiety our students feel walking to school and having to cross Broadway,” Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School Principal Kenneth Mantalbano said.
“Thank you for the traffic light. It will help keep students and the community safe,” Luis Munoz Marin School Student Council President Emnija West said.
“Technology High School is grateful to finally receive this traffic signal. We appreciate all the work that is being done to keep our students safe,” Newark Technology High School Principal Edwin Reyes said.
“As the student representative on the Board of Education, I am always thinking about what our students need. Seeing this makes it real for me what can be accomplished,” said Newark Technology High School Senior Kimberly Gonzalez, who serves as the student representative on the Newark Board of Education.
The equipment includes LED traffic signals, modern poles, high visibility crosswalks and roadway striping, and pedestrian countdown timers that can be activated by pushing the crossing button. As an added safety feature, when the crosswalk button is pushed, the intersection provides a dedicated pedestrian crossing by having the lights turn red in every direction to stop all motor vehicle traffic through the intersection. LED lights are brighter, easier to see, more energy efficient and last longer than traditional bulbs. Sidewalks, curbs and roadway pavement was replaced only where it was disturbed by the construction or broken. The signals also are outfitted with GPS clocks to ensure they remain coordinated with other traffic signals along Broadway.
The new traffic signals installed at the intersections of Broadway & Carteret Street and Broadway & Kearny Street are part of a larger traffic signal improvement project that also included two intersections in Belleville, two intersections in Bloomfield, two intersections in Irvington and one intersection in Maplewood. NV5 from Parsippany received a professional services contract for $468,840 to design the upgrades at all locations. Assuncao Brothers, Inc. from Edison was awarded a publicly bid contract for $4,825,659 to perform the construction work at each intersection. Essex County received a $5,054,693 grant from the Federal Local Safety Program (LSP) to fund the project. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to answer question and avoid delays from occurring.