New bridge seen having little traffic impact KEARNY - The state Department of Transportation has given assurances to municipal officials, residents and merchants that construction of a new Hackensack River crossing will have minimal traffic disruption.
The state wants to replace the aging Wittpenn Bridge with a six-lane crossing.
The roadway of the new bridge would be 70 feet above the water, which state officials said should mean that it will have to be raised only once a week to allow ships to pass underneath.
The Wittpenn Bridge, whose roadway is 35 feet above the water is raised daily.
"We believe there will not be a serious impact during construction," DOT representative Robert James said during a presentation at Tuesday night's council meeting.
Design consultant Andre Luboff said the completed project will also improve roadways in the immediate area of the bridge.
James said construction won't start for at least one year. He said the state is still in the process of acquiring all the necessary property.
Construction of the new bridge is expected to take about two years. The existing bridge will remain open during that time.
State officials also promised to look into the possibility of creating a free trade zone in South Kearny.
Mayor Al Santos expressed concern that the new bridge would merely increase truck traffic in the area. "We need to make sure that this results in something more than another warehouse in Kearney," he said.