Overview

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is undertaking a project to reconstruct the Route 3, Route 46, Valley Road and Notch/Rifle Camp Road Interchanges to correct existing operational and safety problems along the Route 3 and Route 46 corridor as these existing problems have resulted in a high occurrence of accidents and chronic bottlenecks. The project is located in the Township of Little Falls, Borough of Woodland Park and the City of Clifton in Passaic County. Project limits along Route 46 extend from Lower Notch Road (Little Falls) to Rock Hill Road (Clifton). Along Route 3, the project limits extend from the Route 46/Valley Road Interchange to Grove Street.

A Feasibility Assessment Study was completed in 2001 to determine the transportation problems and needs along Route 46 from the interchange with Notch and Rifle Camp Roads in Little Falls and Woodland Park to the Route 3/Valley Road Interchange in Clifton. The following problems were found to exist:

• inadequate acceleration and deceleration lanes
• narrow shoulder widths
• closely spaced driveways and access points
• poor sight distance
• reduced lanes on Route 3 westbound
• deteriorated and substandard bridges

The Feasibility Assessment Study resulted in the selection of an Initially Preferred Alternative (IPA), and the project's Environmental Document was approved following completion of the Feasibility Assessment. Following completion of scope development, NJDOT re-evaluated the improvements to reduce the project related impacts and cost without sacrificing the intent of the original project purpose and need. The current plan, referred to as the Proposed Improvements Plan, reduces utility infrastructure and environmental impacts.

During subsequent stages of design, an analysis of the overall project was completed to determine ways of phasing the proposed improvements into smaller, independent construction contracts. Consideration was given to utility relocation needs and the prioritization of improvements. This resulted in the identification of two independent construction phases - Contract A and Contract B.

The project is currently in Final Design and Construction. The Contract A Construction Contract was awarded on October 29, 2015 with construction activities beginning in December 2015. Construction for Contract A is anticipated to continue until 2019. Contract B is in the Final Design Phase.