30 Aug ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES UPGRADES FOR 12 INTERSTIONS ALONG BLOOMFIELD AVENUE IN MONTCLAIR
Published on August 30, 2021
Montclair, NJ – On Monday, August 30th, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Essex County is updating 12 intersections along Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair with new equipment. The project is part of DiVincenzo’s ongoing initiative to ensure infrastructure in Essex County is up to date and able to meet the changing demands of the community.
“Making sure our infrastructure is modern and up to date helps keep our downtown areas, like Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, safe for pedestrians and motorists and vibrant for our residents and businesses,” DiVincenzo said.
“On behalf of the board, I look forward to the upgrading of the Bloomfield Avenue corridor. This is a worthwhile expenditure which will bring aesthetic and safety improvements for our residents,” Commissioner President Wayne Richardson said.
“Bloomfield Avenue is one of the most traveled and important thoroughfares in all of Essex County. Our Board was happy to work with the Montclair Township Council and other township officials to significantly enhance safety measures for pedestrians and improve traffic flow at the some of the unique intersections in the heart of Montclair’s commercial district,” Commissioner Vice President Carlos M. Pomares said.
Commissioner At-Large Brendan W. Gill, a lifelong Montclair resident, has advocated for safer road conditions throughout his career in public service. “Safety for pedestrians and drivers should never be taken for granted,” Gill stated. “As elected officials, we must continue to evaluate our roads and ensure safe conditions for our citizens are prioritized. The improvements along the Bloomfield Avenue corridor will add to the aesthetic beauty of downtown Montclair, while making our roads and intersections safer for everyone,” he added.
“This is a perfect example of Montclair working with Essex County to focus on how we can improve conditions for pedestrians and how vehicles can move along Bloomfield Avenue safely. These are important upgrades for our community,” said Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, who was also joined by Councilors Robert Russo and Lori Price Abrams.
The 12 intersections receiving upgrades are as follows:
- Bloomfield Avenue and North/South Mountain Avenues
- Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road/Bell Street
- Bloomfield Avenue and Valley Road
- Bloomfield Avenue and Midland Avenue (see below)
- Bloomfield Avenue and Park Street
- Bloomfield Avenue and North/South Fullerton Avenue/Church Street/Glenridge Avenue
- Bloomfield Avenue and Seymour Street (see below)
- Bloomfield Avenue and North/South Willow Street
- Bloomfield Avenue and Gates Avenue/Lackawanna Plaza
- Bloomfield Avenue and Elm Street/Grove Street
- Bloomfield Avenue and Hartley Street
- Bloomfield Avenue and Maple Avenue/Pine Street
Ten of the intersections will receive new poles and overhead lights equipped with LED bulbs, which are brighter, more energy efficient and last longer. The upgrades also include pedestrian crosswalk signals, new roadway striping and signage. The new signals will be equipped with back-up power so the lights will continue to function in case there is a power failure or blackout. Sidewalks and curbing at the intersections will be repaired or replaced where necessary.
New traffic signals where ones did not exist before will be installed at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Midland Avenue. Pedestrian crosswalk signals will be installed at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Seymour Street.
KS Engineers, PC from Newark received a $1,318,964 professional services contract to design the intersection upgrades and provide inspection services during construction. Trench Technologies from Millburn was awarded a publicly bid contract for $6,699,829 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. The improvements are funded through a grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The improvements are underway and are scheduled to be completed by May 2022.