Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (R-South Shore) and Island elected officials are calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to provide a timeline for the construction of a new Outerbridge Crossing, from a study of the existing structure to the logistics of its replacement. The borough officials have claimed a renewed sense of urgency since Perth Amboy has been intentionally harassing New York motorists and preventing them from exiting onto local roads during peak traffic times.

Additionally, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has recently indicated to Borelli and the Staten Island elected officials who requested a zipper barrier be installed on the Outerbridge to allow for greater flow of traffic during peak traffic times and reduce congestion on and leading up to the crossing that the zipper barrier would not be feasible for the PANYNJ to implement.

The joint letter is addressed to Executive Director Cotton of the Port Authority and has received supporting signatures from Council Members Matteo and Rose, Assembly Members Malliotakis, Titone, and Castorina, State Senator Lanza, Congress Member Donovan, and Borough President Oddo.

“We’ve tried to propose creative solutions for the interim period before getting a new bridge,” said Council Member Joseph Borelli. “Unfortunately, many of the contemporary approaches to traffic management on bridges cannot be implemented on this bridge, which was originally constructed in 1928. It’s absolutely critical that the Port Authority provides us with a timeline for construction of a new bridge that we can hold them to.”

To view a copy of the letter, click here.