Residents say retaining wall closure on Overlook Avenue has left driveways unusable; officials cite safety, pending engineering

Residents pressed Ridgefield Park officials on June 23 over a failing retaining wall on Overlook Avenue that has blocked driveway access for weeks, saying the closure has created daily hardships and safety concerns.

"It has been 3 weeks and he still can’t use his driveway," resident Feliz Say told the Board, adding that he has used a charging station seven times and struggles to carry groceries including "10-gallon water containers." Village Attorney Phil Boggia responded that "the wall needs to be stabilized. The Village cannot take a chance of the road collapsing," and that reopening the road depends on stabilization and engineers’ approval, which he said could take months.

Another resident, Tom Vercelli, asked the Village to prohibit staging materials on the street, provide weekly updates and produce a job schedule. Vercelli said the town should prioritize an open lane for emergency vehicles and questioned why the owner, Bedevian, has not been fined for delays. Boggia said he has been in daily contact with Bedevian but noted the property is private, limiting the Village’s options without lengthy legal action.

Commissioner William G. Gerken reported contractors were on-site and said there are multiple repair plans under consideration; she noted a six-foot fence encroaches into the street at about the 11-foot mark and engineers are restricting closer access. Commissioner John H. Anlian said he would consult engineers about leaving an emergency lane and speak with the Police Department about parking; no timeline for full reopening was provided.