Broadway Improvements to Alleviate Traffic Congestion

A long-awaited project to relieve traffic in downtown Westwood is slated to start next month, though some accessory parts of the project have already begun.

Crews will widen three intersections along Broadway — at Irvington Street, Washington Avenue and First Avenue — to add new turning lanes so that drivers will be able to travel along the street parallel to the railroad when trains pass or stop at Westwood Station.

Mayor John Birkner called the project "a modernization plan" and said he expected it would increase safety for pedestians and drivers in the borough, adding it may also benefit the business community by making the downtown area more attractive to customers.

"The benefits will be seen for decades to come," Birkner said. "This has been long overdue."

Work is expected to start about July 12. The Irvington Street intersection will be the first one worked on, and construction is expected to last two weeks there. First Avenue will come next, lasting another two weeks. Washington Avenue will be third, and work will likely last slightly longer there because it's a larger intersection.

During the work, there will be no train service on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Shuttle buses will transport travellers to the Oradell Station. Shuttle buses will also operate on weekends between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. to replace train service. Trains will otherwise operate normally on the Pascack Valley Line.

Madison Avenue through Veterans' Memorial Park will be closed at Third Avenue as part of a related project. Third Avenue, Park Avenue and a remaining portion of Madison in the park will be widened to add more parking spaces in improve the flow of traffic.

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