Traffic Again Flowing on Wyckoff Avenue

UPDATE: Wyckoff Avenue is now completely open to traffic after a day's worth of repairs to the rail crossing at Main Street.

The traffic jams that had congested downtown Wyckoff throughout the day have disappeared, with cars moving more freely during rush hour than they did early in the afternoon. 

Representatives of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway did not return calls concerning the state of repairs, which police had characterized as a broken rail. It is not yet known if crews will need to make a return to the crossing, although cars are driving over the work area, and a train came through at approximately 5:35 p.m.

The center of town is heavily congested as motorists are detoured off of Wyckoff Avenue, where rail repairs are ongoing. 

Traffic was slow as of 3 p.m. heading into Wyckoff on Franklin Avenue, with cars delayed almost back to Waldwick. Residual effects from the delays has many motorists trying to bypass the jams by turning onto Godwin Avenue, which is also heavily trafficked for a Monday afternoon.

The delays are being caused by a road closure on Wyckoff Avenue, from Greenwood Avenue to Main Street. Motorists are being prompted to turn up Greenwood Avenue, while those who may have turned onto Wyckoff from Franklin are being detoured up Main Street. A police officer is helping to direct traffic in front of Town Hall, assisting those motorists detoured onto Main who are trying to then make a left onto Franklin, a difficult proposition under normal conditions.

"The closure is creating a traffic situation on Franklin Avenue," said police Chief Benjamin Fox. Essentially, the closure is "putting both streets on Franklin Avenue," creating "residual delays" through the center of town.

The road closure was not planned. Fox said the township was informed by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway of the need for emergency repairs to repair a "broken rail."

"We would never do this without notice to the public," the chief said. 

Crews from NYSW and L. Becker & Son Excavating of Bloomingdale are currently working on the crossing over Wyckoff Avenue, just off Main Street. Calls into NYSW concerning the state of repairs were not immediately returned.

Fox said the department has been told that work is expected to be completed today, although there is no definitive closing time. 

More details will be provided as they become available.