Dangerous Wayne Road To Get $15M Federal Grant For Safety Upgrades: Officials

WAYNE, NJ — A $15 million federal grant will address safety improvements along a more than three-mile stretch of road in Wayne, officials said.

Wayne Township plans to make safety improvements along 3.22 miles of Valley Road, from French Hill Road to Hamburg Turnpike, officials said. Upgrades will encompass 30 intersections, with plans to build new sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and traffic signals, as well as upgrade pedestrian signals.

Making this heavily-traveled road safer has been a longtime goal, said Wayne Councilwoman Fran Ritter, who took office in 2020.

"This grant will mitigate the risks that have plagued Valley Road’s drivers and pedestrians for decades," Ritter added.

In 2018, two pedestrians died in one week trying to cross the road. A pedestrian died in a November 22 crash last year on Valley Road, as well, according to New Jersey State Police statistics.

This federal grant funding is in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)’s FY 2022 Local Safety Program, according to Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11). Grant money will fund initial engineering, final design, construction, and inspection services for the project.

The improvements will make the road safer for drivers, pedestrians, and transit riders through Wayne, said Sherrill, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-9), and officials in both Wayne and Passaic County at large in their announcement Wednesday.

Mayor Christopher P. Vergano said it was encouraging to see the federal, county, and municipal governments work together "to solve an obvious problem."

“We are extremely pleased that this $15M federal grant from the NJTPA will transfer Valley Road into a much safer roadway for our pedestrians and the traveling public," he said.

Passaic County Commissioner John W. Bartlett, a Wayne resident, said road safety funding to the region has doubled since 2020 and praised the partnership between the county, municipalities, the NJTPA, and Rep. Sherrill.

“Federal support helps free up local dollars, state aid, and municipal aid, so that New Jersey can continue to upgrade aging infrastructure and keep people safe -- whether they travel by car, bike, foot, or transit," added Bartlett, who also chairs the NJPTA.

“When we invest in updating our infrastructure, communities flourish," added Sherrill. "These improvements will bolster the quality of life for residents and expand access to small businesses. My top priority in Congress is to bring our tax dollars back to serve our local communities and it is great to see that happening here."