Yesterday, seven members of the Jersey City Municipal Council announced their opposition to the planned expansion of a section of the New Jersey Turnpike extension. This morning, Mark Longo, Director of the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, a group representing major building contractor associations in New Jersey and New York, released the following statement:
“We are deeply troubled by the recent resolutions slammed through by the Hoboken and Jersey City municipal councils that oppose the desperately needed widening of the New Jersey Turnpike extension. We all wish to wave the magic wand so traffic would disappear, pollution would not exist, and unicorns would safely stroll down Washington or Grove Street.
Unfortunately, we live in the real world and over 100,000 vehicles travel through the Holland Tunnel daily. Goods, services, employees, and tourists all use this vital economic highway. Road expansion will reduce congestion and pollution from vehicles idling as well as grow both the local and regional economies.
The city council members have, through formal action, now demanded that we combat the traffic and congestion by opposing the expansion – which will only cause more traffic, more pollution and more vehicles trying to cut through local roads. This is the very issue an expansion would solve.
The hard-working women and men of Operating Engineers, Local 825, our contractors and the numerous other trades and suppliers undoubtably look forward to this project and easing the traffic burden on one of NJ’s most economically critical roadways.”