Excellence in Livable Communities Route 21 Freeway Extension

New Jersey Department of Transportation HNTB Corporation Vollmer Associates LLP

The New Jersey Department of Transportation promoted and facilitated extensive dialog with the community and the various regulatory agencies in order to ensure measures were in place to mitigate the project impacts and promote community cohesion. The project included the creation of a neighborhood park and a pedestrian passageway which extended under the completed roadway. This feature preserved a crucial physical link between both sides of the community. Other project elements included the reconstruction of a public park and a waterfront esplanade along the river, an extensive street tree planting program, construction of recreational facilities, and the use of noise walls throughout the project area. A major portion of the project was constructed over the contaminated Dundee Canal, which capped existing contamination on-site. A key feature of the Route 21 project is the use of local architectural styles and materials for all structures so that the completed roadway blends into the surrounding neighborhood, thus maintaining and reinforcing its physical integrity. This project demonstrates the importance of working with communities to design projects that promote community cohesion and benefit all segments of society through the use of context sensitive design concepts and innovative mitigation and enhancement measures.

Project Contributors New Jersey Department of Transportation       Steven J. Manera HNTB Corporation       Frank E. Scerbo       Peter F. Imperiale Vollmer Associates LLP       Jeff Grob