Two Major Intersections to Undergo Upgrades

Two major intersections in Newark will receive nearly $1 million in pedestrian safety upgrades, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority announced.

The intersections, located at Park Avenue and 4th Street and Broad and South Streets, are considered "quick fix" in nature and ready for construction.

The $470,000-worth of improvements at Park Avenue and 4th Street include high visibility crosswalks, pedestrian countdown signals and push buttons, driveway consolidation, dedicated turn lanes and striping, traffic signal upgrade with protected/permitted turn movements, no turn on red prohibitions and new traffic and pedestrian signs. The intersection, near two public schools and a bus and Newark Light Rail stop, is located on the west side of Branch Brook Park.

At Broad and South Streets, a $500,000 in upgrades will include modern traffic signals and synchronization between this intersection and adjacent intersections to the north and south, new curbing and sidewalks, expanded turning radiuses to better accommodate truck movements, new traffic signs and curb bulb-outs.

The transportation planning authority also announced $630,000 in upgrades to intersections at Park Avenue at High Street and Glenwood Avenue, in East Orange and Orange, respectively.

Essex County will oversee the Park Avenue projects, while the City of Newark will manage the one at Broad Street.

"The improvements at Broad and South streets will help calm traffic and make pedestrians more visible to drivers," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a member of the NJTPA Board of Trustees, in a statement. "Modernizing the intersection and coordinating signals will also help improve traffic circulation in one of the busiest areas along Broad Street."