Virtual Meeting Sept. 21 for Berkshire Valley Road & Trestle Upgrade

Published on September 10, 2021

Truck hit Trestle Berkshire Valley Road.jpg

Truck Route Project Includes Elevating Roxbury Trestle Closed by July Truck Crash

Morris County and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) will hold a virtual public meeting this month on the “Berkshire Valley Road Truck Circulation Project” in Roxbury Township, which includes options to elevate the Chester Branch Railroad trestle that has been the scene of many collisions, including this summer.

The trestle, which has an 11-feet-5-inch clearance level, was slammed into and damaged by a dump truck on July 13, forcing the closure of Berkshire Valley Road and the railroad line, delaying rail and vehicle traffic in the area. The study, which will be outlined at the public virtual meeting on Sept. 21, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., will develop and evaluate potential options to eliminate the height restriction that the Chester Branch rail bridge poses on Berkshire Valley Road.

To learn more and attend the virtual meeting, please visit the project website:

https://www.berkshirevalleyroadstudy.com/

The study will also explore potential improvements to better accommodate truck movements at the intersection of Berkshire Valley Road and North Dell Avenue. Safety will be improved and the project will allow for a more direct truck route on Berkshire Valley Road that avoids the residential areas along North Dell Avenue.

“Maintaining rail service and improving truck access to this area is critical for economic growth and quality of life in Roxbury Township and Morris County,” said Morris County Commissioner Kathy DeFillippo, who represents the county on the NJTPA Board and serves as Chair. “I encourage the public to come learn about this important project and provide their input as we develop ways to improve truck access.”

The meeting is an opportunity for the public and business owners to learn more about the project and provide input for this study. Presentations will be held at 6:30 p.m. and at 7:15 p.m. Participants will be able to ask questions and share any concerns with the project team.

The low overhead clearance where the Morris County-owned Chester Branch trestle crosses over Berkshire Valley Road restricts the height of trucks that can travel on the road. This height restriction requires larger vehicles to divert to North Dell Avenue when using Berkshire Valley Road to travel between I-80 and Route 46.

Despite advance warning signs and postings on the bridge, there have been numerous truck collisions with the trestle that often result in the bridge being taken out of service for repairs, impacting both rail freight service and traffic on Berkshire Valley Road. In addition, the layout of the Berkshire Valley Road and North Dell Avenue intersection makes it difficult for trucks to navigate.

The NJTPA is managing and funding this study through its Freight Concept Development Program. Preferred alternatives for improving the bridge and intersection will be selected at the conclusion of the study, which will allow for these projects to be eligible for funding for design and construction.

Comments on the project may be emailed to Jakub Rowinski, NJTPA Project Manager at [email protected].

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