Traffic 'Disaster' To Continue Through Tuesday

Utility work at a busy downtown Wyckoff intersection is to cause severe traffic problems that may back up to other parts of the township, police said Monday.

PSEG and road crews were tearing up a trench in the street on the east side of Wyckoff Avenue between Franklin Avenue and Frances Place Monday morning, forcing to narrow traffic down to one lane.

Detective Sgt. Joseph Soto was on scene directing alternating cars down the highly trafficked road, which was shut down to through traffic at Franklin Avenue.

According to Soto the road crews would be moving up toward Franklin Avenue throughout the day, culminating with at least one full day of work Tuesday at the busy intersection.

"You've got nine lanes of traffic that all come together there," Soto said. "This becomes a logistical nightmare."

In an email blast to residents Monday morning, the township warned resident to expect "major traffic delays."

"Motorists should avoid the intersection of Wyckoff Avenue and Franklin Avenue from Monday June 18 to Wednesday June 20. The installation of a gas pipeline by PSE&G will be causing full and partial closures of the approaches to the intersection. The resulting traffic will also cause residual delays on many nearby intersecting roadways, or roads that take traffic away from the area," the notification read.

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said that the utility company had advised him that they were hoping to have completed work at the intersection by Tuesday evening, but that the gas pipeline replacement could extend into Wednesday.

"Tomorrow is going to be a disaster," Fox said. "If you're just traveling through that intersection our advice is just to stay away."

He acknowledged that the repairs are likely to have an impact on local businesses, Fox said.

After completing work at the intersection crews would double back in the direction of Frances Place and work on connections to individual homes, Fox said.

The township has advised motorists and residents that throughout the summer PSEG will be ripping into a number of local streets to replace gas lines. Included in the township list of roadwork:

• Wyckoff Avenue – between Newtown Road and Cedar Hill Avenue.
• Cedar Hill Avenue – between Wyckoff Avenue and Maple Drive
• Ravine Avenue – between Grandview Avenue and Lafayette Avenue.
• Franklin Avenue – between Woodfield Road and Franklin Lakes border.
• Newtown Road – between Eastview Terrace and Hillcrest Avenue.
• Girard Avenue – between Lebanon Street and Radcliffe Street.

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