School Buses To Be Routed Around Downtown Construction

Millburn school officials are working with the police to help with traffic issues downtown because of the bridge construction.

Schools Supt. James Crisfield said this week school officials have met with police about the construction project and traffic because of it. The result is buses will be directed around the area to help alleviate any potential traffic problems.

"Where we can, we will route buses around the area," he said. "There are some cases we can't do that."

School officials were told it's hard to tell what traffic will be like downtown once school opens until everyone lives through it, he said.

But school officials also are working to get the word out to families about pedestrian safety downtown knowing many students walk through the area each day. Crisfield said they will distribute information about what sidewalks are open and closed and the safest walking routes.

"We're most concerned about kids crossing the street where there's no crosswalk," he said. He cited the area near the Millburn Deli as one spot where kids could cross without a crosswalk. "It's a fast traffic spot, and we have understandable concerns," he said.

County officials have a project to demolish and replace the Millburn Avenue bridge over the west branch of the Rahway River just east of Main Street. The project is expected to take up to eight months to complete. Some sidewalks have been closed, and some street parking was removed. The project recently was suspended so Verizon could stabilize a phone wire, which has been happening this week.