Parents Advised About New ‘Hazardous Route’ In West Caldwell

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — There’s a new “hazardous route” in West Caldwell, authorities announced Tuesday.

The West Caldwell Police Department issued the following advisory about the change:

“Effective Oct. 17, 2021, the West Caldwell Police Department will no longer be providing a traffic assistance detail at Bloomfield Avenue and Passaic Avenue from 2:50 to 3:50 p.m. (Monday through Friday). This intersection has been designated as a Hazardous Route under N.J.S. 18A:39-1.5 by the West Caldwell Police Department and recommended for adoption of policy by the Caldwell/West Caldwell Board of Education.”

According to police, the decision was made to avoid serious injury and/or death to an assigned officer or district students crossing at the intersection.

The WCPD said:

“Some of the factors considered before the recommendation for designating Passaic Avenue a Hazardous Route are based on population density, traffic volume, average vehicle velocity, absence of sidewalks, roadways with blind curves and steep inclines and declines, the width of the intersections, number of lanes of travel, and lack of a dedicated red signal for pedestrian crossing.”

Police concluded:

“Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to seek alternate arrangements for transportation to and from school until such time that the Board of Education can determine a long-term transportation solution to this issue.”

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