$74 Million Project in Teaneck Promises Relief for GWB-Bound Commuters—But Brace for Six Years of Construction
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TEANECK, NJ—Commuters relying on Route 4 for access to the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan can finally look forward to a major upgrade—but the wait will be long. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed a multi-year, multi-stage project to replace the 91-year-old Route 4 bridges over Palisade Avenue, Windsor Road, and the CSX Railroad in Teaneck.
While the primary goal is bridge replacement, the major win for motorists is the planned widening of Route 4 through this critical stretch. The notorious two-lane bottleneck will be expanded to a three-lane highway in both directions—a major boost for east/west traffic flow.
The estimated $74 million project is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026 and will likely continue through 2032.
Project Timeline and Traffic Mitigation Plan
DOT Deputy Project Manager Jaclyn Lawson provided a detailed update at Teaneck’s October 21 meeting, outlining the phased approach designed to minimize disruption on the heavily-trafficked corridor:
| Phase | Start Date | Duration | Focus |
| Phase 1: Utility Relocation | Fall 2026 | 2 Years | Moving utilities to clear the construction zone. |
| Phase 2: Bridge Replacement | Fall 2028 | 4 Years (3 Stages) | Demolition and construction of the new, wider bridges. |
| Project Completion | 2032 | 6 Years Total | New six-lane Route 4 and improved ramps. |
Commuter Safety & Flow Commitments:
Acknowledging severe traffic concerns, the DOT made key commitments for the construction period:
- Lanes Maintained: Two lanes of traffic will be preserved in each direction on Route 4 throughout the construction.
- No Route 4 Detours: Route 4 traffic will not be diverted onto local Teaneck streets.
- Local Disruptions: “Short duration” detours will be necessary on local roads like Belle Avenue, Palisade Avenue, and Windsor Road for utility and roadway work.
- Night Work: No night work is planned along residential roads.
Enhancements and Land Acquisition
Beyond the widening, the project includes crucial flow enhancements, particularly for the eastbound traffic entering and exiting Route 4. The eastbound Belle Avenue on/off ramp will be modernized with dedicated acceleration and deceleration lanes to prevent backups.
The widening, however, requires the acquisition of an estimated one-third acre of parkland along Route 4. The DOT is offering a 6-acre property off Shepard Avenue (between Oak Street and Buffet Terrace) as a substitute for the lost green space, aiming to mitigate the environmental impact.
A Dual-Bridge Priority: Hackensack River Project Starts First
The Teaneck bridges are just one part of a larger, critical infrastructure overhaul for Route 4.
The second, even larger project—the replacement of Route 4’s Hackensack River bridge—is scheduled to begin sooner. Located just 2.5 miles west of Teaneck (near Riverside Square Mall and FDU), this segment is slated to start in January 2026 and is expected to cost between $150 million and $200 million, requiring four to five years to complete.
Residents can view the full Palisades bridge video presentation and slide show on the Teaneck Township website, teanecknj.gov.
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