Route 15 and Houses Corner Road project completed in Sussex County
(Sparta) New
Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Jack
Lettiere and State Senator Robert Littell announced the completion
of the Route 15 and Houses Corner Road project in Sparta. The
project added a full traffic light, which was turned on today
at approximately 11am, and dedicated left turn slots at the intersection
of Route 15 and Houses Corner Road. Additionally, Route 15 has
been elevated to carry it over the nearby railroad crossing. Both
measures will greatly improve safety and reduce congestion in
the area. Governor James E. McGreevey, NJDOT, and Senator Littell
formally broke ground on the project in May of 2002.
"This
project spotlights the importance of our congestion relief and
safety improvement efforts," said Governor McGreevey. "In
Sussex County, we are investing $12.4 million towards those goals
in 2005 alone. These investments are an important part of our
plan to give New Jerseyans a better quality of life."
"In our
ongoing quest to clear New Jersey of traffic congestion and improve
safety, I am so pleased to see another piece of the puzzle get
put into place," said NJDOT Commissioner Lettiere. "This
project is indicative of the Governor's efforts to aggressively
attack the specific traffic choke points in Sussex County and
improve quality of life for the region."
"I am
pleased to see this important transportation project come to completion.
It has been a long time coming," said Senator Littell, who
has been the leading legislative supporter of the project. "Area
residents and commuters will now experience a revamped roadway
that improves both travel safety and traffic flow."
The previous
intersection was signalized with a blinking traffic light and
no left turn slots for cars turning off of Route 15 onto Houses
Corner Road. Due to heavy traffic on Route 15, the left-hand turn
became a dangerous adventure for motorists and traffic would backup
behind cars waiting to make the left turn. Heavy truck traffic
in the area only further exacerbated the safety and congestion
problems. The new intersection is realigned with a full traffic
light and dedicated left turn slots to allow for safer left turns
and will significantly reduce the backups and accidents that occurred
at the intersection. The railroad crossing just north of Houses
Corner Road impeded traffic flow on Route 15 while cars waited
for passing rail traffic. Route 15 now flies over the rail crossing
so motorists can drive past the crossing with no delay.
The $15.5
million project also adds a full shoulder in each direction on
Route 15 and Houses Corner Road in the area of the intersection.
