Essex County to Close Part of South Orange Avenue for Three Days

One of the busiest roads in Essex County will close for three days this week due to construction.

Essex County will shut down a section of County Route 510 (South Orange Avenue) between Cherry Lane / Brookside Drive and Wyoming Avenue, from Tuesday, April 28 at 7 a.m. to Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

Repairs will focus mainly on the roadway which cut through the South Mountain Reservation. The closures are necessary so an existing pedestrian bridge can be removed and a temporary bridge be installed over the roadway, according to a release.

The construction is part of a $30 million, federally-funded project to flatten the curves in the road, enhance motor vehicle safety and improve storm drainage. [See related Patch article]

During the road closures, motor vehicles traveling eastbound on South Orange Avenue will be detoured north on Cherry Lane to east on Northfield Avenue to south on Wyoming Avenue before returning to South Orange Avenue.

Motor vehicles traveling westbound on South Orange Avenue will be detoured to Wyoming Avenue to Northfield Avenue to Cherry Lane.

Only local traffic traveling westbound on South Orange Avenue will be allowed to bypass the detour.

“Closing South Orange Avenue will be an inconvenience for motorists traveling to work or school or going about their daily business,” stated Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.

“However, it must be done to maximize safety for drivers, pedestrians and construction crews,” DiVincenzo said. “We ask motorists to follow our detour, plan alternate routes and give themselves additional time to travel. We appreciate the public’s cooperation and look forward to a new and improved South Orange Avenue.”

Photo caption: Essex County plans to close a section of South Mountain Avenue from Tuesday, April 28 at 7 a.m. to Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

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