Lettiere, Wisniewski mark opening of new Parkway ramp in Woodbridge
(Woodbridge)
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Jack
Lettiere, New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTPK) Executive Director
Michael Lapolla, NJTPK Deputy Executive Director Tim McDonough
and Assembly Transportation Chairman John Wisniewski today marked
the opening of a new access ramp for the Garden State Parkway
in Woodbridge.
The new ramp allows motorists to merge onto the
Parkway South from the Middlesex-Essex Turnpike and greatly improves
access for Metropark Station users to the Parkway.
"The additional
access to the Parkway for Middlesex residents is just another
example of Governor McGreevey's steadfast commitment to improving
residents' daily commute," said Lettiere. "I want to thank Chairman
Wisniewski, Senator Vitale and Assemblyman Vas for their strong
support of this project and transportation projects critical to
the State."
"We're happy
to be able to respond to the needs of motorists that utilize mass
transit and provide better access to the Garden State Parkway.
These improvements will reduce commuting times, have a positive
impact on thousands of drivers each day, and help deliver on Governor
McGreevey's commitment to relieving congestion on our roadways,"
added Lapolla.
"There
are a great number of commuters who will use this new
Garden State Parkway exit. About 4 million NJ Transit and AMTRAK
riders utilize the Metropark Station each year," noted Assemblyman
Wisniewski. "The new and improved exit will make the lives
and the commutes of these people much easier and help reduce traffic
on our already overcrowded roadways."
"The opening
of this new ramp will alleviate a great deal of congestion in
this area for both commuters and residents alike. I thank
Governor McGreevey and Commissioner Lettiere for recognizing the
need for this project and for seeing it through completion," said
State Senator Joseph Vitale.
"The New Jersey
Department of Transportation is making access and safety on the
Garden State Parkway a priority. By providing a new ramp leading
from the Middlesex-Essex Turnpike onto the Garden State Parkway
southbound in Woodbridge, it will benefit commuters and relieve
traffic in the area for all citizens," said Assemblyman Joseph
Vas.
The work performed
consisted of the construction of a new ramp from the eastbound
side of Middlesex-Essex Turnpike to the southbound Garden State
Parkway at Interchange 131B. The project included widening the
southbound Garden State Parkway bridge over the south branch of
the Rahway River.
Construction
began on the $2.3 million project in November of 2002.
