MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – The Route 24 and Columbia Turnpike interchange project is indefinitely delayed due to Morris Township officials refusing to provide a letter of support last week that was crucial to Morris County’s effort to secure federal aid through Congress.
“We want to thank the Borough of Florham Park, the Township of Hanover and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill for their steadfast support of our effort to secure federal funding for the multi-million dollar plan to remedy dangerous traffic problems at the Route 24 and Columbia Turnpike Interchange,” the Morris County Board of County Commissioners said in a statement.
“It is with significant disappointment that we must announce an indefinite delay in moving forward because the unique opportunity to secure that federal aid, specifically for preliminary engineering, design and right of way acquisition phases, was lost last week,” the commissioners said.
Until recently, this critical project had the support of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Morris County and all towns impacted by the congestion and accidents at the interchange, and no objections were raised in the year since the NJDOT presented a preferred realignment plan in March of 2020, the commissioners said.
“We all understood the design phases would provide every opportunity for everyone to express concerns and to recommend changes at future public hearings to the NJDOT preferred plan,” the commissioners said.
“Regrettably, Morris Township refused to provide a letter of support last week that was crucial to our effort to secure federal aid through Congress. The window of opportunity has since closed,” the commissioners said.
