NJDOT details Passaic Avenue–Ward Avenue reconstruction; residents raise parking, timing and safety concerns

New Jersey Department of Transportation project staff and designers on Sept. 25 outlined plans to add a traffic signal at the Passaic Avenue–Ward Avenue intersection in Clifton, reconfigure the Route 3 east‑ and westbound ramps, reconstruct curb and sidewalk areas and perform repaving work that will require temporary overnight ramp closures. The project team said active construction is expected to begin in October 2025 and to be substantially complete by November 2026.

The project manager for NIA Consulting Group, Ty Thomason, told the council and a room of residents that the work includes a new turning movement at Passaic and Ward avenues, reconfiguration of an island on the Route 3 westbound ramp and “repaving for the whole project,” with some overnight full ramp closures for milling and paving. Thomason said most work will be staged so two‑way traffic can be maintained during…