The City of Hoboken today announced efforts to help mitigate anticipated traffic during the next phase of construction of the Rebuild by Design – Hudson River (RBDH) project’s Resist structure near southwest Hoboken by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Starting on or about Monday, March 31, the NJDEP will begin test pitting and construction activities for the foundation of the Resist structure’s sliding gate across Jersey Avenue. The gate will be deployed during storm surge events like Hurricane Sandy, which inundated Hoboken with over 500 million gallons of water. It will connect to the nearly 5,000-foot-long southern Resist structure that will prevent water from the Hudson River from entering the city via the Long Slip Canal in the south. When complete, the project will protect portions of Hoboken from storm surge flooding, removing approximately 80 percent of the City from the FEMA-designated flood plain, significantly reducing flood insurance rates for residents.
During this phase of construction, Jersey Avenue will be closed to all traffic 24 hours a day for approximately one month, between Harrison Street in Hoboken and 18th Street in Jersey City. Signs will aid in detouring traffic entering and exiting Hoboken via Grove Street and Marin Boulevard/Henderson Street. Trucks will be directed to use northern roads in and out of the city via Rt. 495 and may exit from the south via Paterson Avenue/ Paterson Plank Road only.
During construction in May and June, one southbound lane of Jersey Avenue is anticipated to reopen to accommodate vehicles exiting Hoboken. Jersey Avenue is scheduled to reopen before the July 4th holiday.
To minimize disruptions, the City, in collaboration with NJDEP, Jersey City, and Hudson County, will implement comprehensive traffic mitigation strategies in advance of construction, including:
Additionally, ongoing projects in the southwestern quadrant of Hoboken that require road closures will be on pause during this phase of Rebuild by Design construction to help reduce traffic impacts.
“Candidly, this road closure is going to be frustrating,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “No one likes traffic detours, and I know this will be difficult for many who rely on Jersey Avenue every day but, the reality is, this short-term pain comes with a long-term payoff. The NJDEP is making a critical investment that will make our city more resilient. In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to ease congestion and keep things moving as smoothly as possible. I appreciate everyone’s patience while we get through this together.”
The Rebuild by Design Hudson River project is a comprehensive flood protection system designed to safeguard portions of Hoboken, Jersey City, and Weehawken against storm surge flooding while integrating flood-resistant infrastructure with new community amenities.
At Harborside Park, for example, residents will enjoy public open space that includes a playground, amphitheater, gardens, plaza, and green spaces. Hidden within the park’s design is a sliding floodgate that will remain unseen on sunny days but can be deployed when needed to connect with the Resist structure across 15th Street, keeping the Hudson River at bay during major storm events.
In southern Hoboken, the Resist structure will be integrated into the urban landscape taking the form of wayfinding signage, planters, seating, public art, and more.
For more information about the Rebuild by Design Hudson - River project, go to https://dep.nj.gov/floodresilience/rebuild-by-design-hudson-river/.
For future updates on the Jersey Avenue Resist element and closure, go to https://dep.nj.gov/floodresilience/rebuild-by-design-hudson-river/public-meetings-construction-updates/#jersey-ave-closure-updates
For weekly construction schedules on public projects in Hoboken, go to www.hobokennj.gov/construction.
