photos courtesy of Mayor Jim Wysocki
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, two weeks after Tropical Storm Debby caused significant flooding near the Mahwah train station, Mayor Jim Wysocki has expressed relief that long-awaited repairs are finally underway. The area had been prone to flooding for about a year due to a broken culvert near the tracks, and Wysocki had previously criticized NJ Transit for their slow response.
However, after a recent TV interview brought more attention to the issue, the mayor reported that NJ Transit had begun addressing the damage. In a follow-up statement, Wysocki expressed his gratitude for the progress being made.
“Hi everyone, NJ Transit/South Railroad Ave update: Thank you to our DPW for removing large debris and rocks from the drainage pipes along South Railroad Ave. New Jersey Transit seems to be making progress on the collapsed culvert behind the mall apartments,” Wysocki shared in a message last week.
He also included photos showing the damaged drain pipe being repaired and assured residents that the work would continue until the issue is fully resolved. “Thank you, everyone, for your patience. We won’t stop until this is fixed correctly,” the mayor added.
In 2023, concerns in Mahwah have heightened following Monday’s flooding on South Railroad Avenue, drawing attention to a yearlong issue with a damaged NJ Transit culvert. Township Administrator Ben Kezmarsky highlighted on Tuesday that an apartment complex east of the tracks has been battling flooding caused by the compromised culvert for the past year.
While the persistent flooding east of the tracks has been a known issue, the recent flooding on the west side has introduced new worries about the integrity of the railroad track embankment. Officials are concerned that the damaged culvert may be causing erosion, potentially creating a tunnel beneath the tracks, which could threaten the stability of the railway.
“Yesterday, our township engineer reached out to his New Jersey Transit contact regarding the erosion of that embankment,” Kezmarsky reported. He also noted that the flooding on South Railroad Avenue marked the first time in recent memory that the area had been inundated, suggesting that water might have found an alternative path beneath the tracks.
The township is urging swift action from NJ Transit to address the erosion and prevent further damage to the infrastructure, as the safety and well-being of residents and commuters are at stake.
