State Rejects Teaneck’s Call to Widen Route 4

The state transportation department has rejected a request by the Teaneck Township Council to widen an often backed-up portion of Route 4 through the township, officials said Wednesday.

In a letter sent to Teaneck officials, Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner Anthony Attanasio wrote that planned work to repair or replace aging Route 4 crossings in Teaneck would not address the town’s request to expand the highway between Belle Avenue and Englewood.

“Since congestion related projects compete directly with limited fiscal resources that are available to address safety and to maintain the State’s aging infrastructure, NJDOT is not pursuing congestion related improvements of Route 4 within the scope of these projects,” Attanasio’s letter said.

Work to replace the Palisade Avenue and Teaneck Road Route 4 bridges would include widening the highway to make room for three lanes in each direction, according to Attanasio.

"This will accommodate future widening of the roadway should there be a future project that addresses congestion of Route 4 in the area,” the letter said.

The transportation department did not immediately return a call seeking details on those projects.

In a letter to the state, Teaneck officials pointed to a traffic bottleneck caused when the highway goes from three to two lanes on Route 4 eastbound, near Belle Avenue, and continues to Englewood.

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