On Heels of Bridge Closure, Transit Head Sounds Alarm

In the wake of the partial closure of a heavily traveled bridge in northern New Jersey this week, Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox warned Thursday that the state’s failing roads and bridges cost drivers billions of dollars as the state is running out of money to repair them.

Fox outlined his concerns alongside the release of a report from the nonprofit research group TRIP, which says the state’s roads cost drivers $11.8 billion a year because of higher operating costs, delays and congestions, and accidents.

The report also says 35 percent of New Jersey’s roads are in poor condition while 36 percent of bridges need repair or replacement.

Fox said the transportation trust fund will be “broke” by July 1.

The report came after the partial closure of a bridge that leads to the Lincoln Tunnel this week because of cracks in its support structure. Two other bridges have also recently been closed, one in Franklin and another in Dover.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the January 26th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.