Are there plans to repave a rough section of Route 124 between Millburn and Short Hills, a driver asks @CommutingLarry
Drivers using Route 124 in suburban Essex County say the highway has a pavement problem and want to know what the state is going to do to smooth out the rough road.
A reader writes that the pavement on a section of Route 124 between Millburn and Short Hills has deteriorated and they're looking for relief, from smoothing out numerous patches of asphalt to repaving the road.
"The section in Millburn from Hobart Avenue to the Short Hills Mall exit is in terrible condition," they wrote. "Areas which were patched over a year ago have not improved its condition."
Does the DOT have plans to smooth the rough ride on a section of Route 124?
Q: Are there any plans to repave or overlay that section of 124? If not, does the DOT plan to revisit the patched areas to see if they can be smoothed out?
A: The quick answer is that the Department of Transportation has plans for that section of Route 124. But drivers will have to wait for a resolution to the state's revenue problem with the Transportation Trust Fund to pay for it.
"This section of Route 124 is part of our Fiscal Year 2017 Resurfacing Program and should be addressed later this year, pending Transportation Trust Fund renewal," said Kevin Israel, a DOT spokesman.
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That renewal may be close, after the state assembly approved a plan early Tuesday morning that increases the state gas tax by 23 cents and decreases the state sales tax by one cent. If approved by the state senate and signed by the governor, it would help bankroll a $2 billion annual capital project plan for the DOT and NJ Transit through the trust fund.
Currently, there is nothing advertised for the Route 124 paving project on the DOT's procurement page.
Last week, we answered why the displays in New Jersey Turnpike E-Z Pass lanes can't tell you the amount of the toll you just paid and what road project is squishing traffic lanes between the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. What can we answer for you?
Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.