Warren County Freeholders pass resolution supporting a request to NJDOT to focus on safety, mobility and congestion on I-80 instead of the rockwall fence
WARREN COUNTY, NJ – The Warren County Freeholder Board went on record Wednesday night supporting Knowlton Township’s request to NJ Department of Transportation to focus on safety, mobility and congestion in the archaic, curvy, and narrow four-lane section of Interstate 80 in the Delaware Water Gap area, instead of investing millions of dollars in a project to erect a massive fence aimed at preventing falling rocks.
A resolution adopted by the board backs efforts by a community group, the “I80 Rockfall Fence and Safety Concerns at the Delaware Water Gap Coalition” (I80DWG Coalition) whose mission includes helping NJDOT address the current known safety issues of the S-curve on Interstate 80 at the Delaware Water Gap instead of erecting the costly and unsightly fence in the picturesque national park
The freeholder’s resolution also supports U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s (NJ-5) June 2019 request for a speed study on I-80 through the Delaware Water Gap.
“We know there are other safety concerns that need to be addressed,” Freeholder Jason J. Sarnoski said, ahead of the costly rockfall fence. Freeholder James R. Kern III commended the municipal officials in Knowlton and Hardwick and the citizens groups for their efforts opposed the rockfall project.
Gottheimer introduced an amendment in July to prohibit any federal funding from being used to build the proposed rockwall along Interstate 80 in Knowlton and Hardwick Townships in Warren County.
