Gardner Continued Opposition to I-80 Rockfall Project to the End of His Tenure

As one of the final acts of his 18-year career as a Warren County Freeholder that ended at the close of 2020, Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner issued a letter condemning the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s I-80 Rockfall Mitigation Project.

The letter, dated December 30, 2020, has been sent to a list of federal, state and local officials on both sides of the Delaware River, as the proposed project at the Delaware Water Gap would have profound effects on New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents alike.

“DOT’s claim to this $65 million project is the need to prevent rockfalls onto I-80,” Gardner wrote, continuing, “Rockfalls on I-80 are actually a rare occurrence.  It begs the question, why is our state DOT so gung-ho to charge ahead and spend tens of millions of taxpayers’ money on this project.  Is there not legislative oversight?  Does Governor Phil Murphy know how his DOT is operating and does he care about the negative impacts of this scheduled project?”

Gardner wrote that the project may cause more harm to the motoring public than it could ever mitigate. He added the NJ DOT should instead plan to realign the S-Curve on I-80, “which is a genuine problem and site of many accidents.”

“Citizens of Warren County are becoming increasingly upset and in some cases outraged at the very thought of desecration to the beautiful vista of the Delaware Water Gap. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. Has the NJ DOT even considered the significance of this natural iconic view shed from the standpoint of the motoring public, county and state residents and from the indigenous tribal nations?” Gardner wrote.

“If this project by the NJ DOT continues as per their plans, four to five years, this will cause nightmares for the motoring public,” Gardner wrote.

Gardner signed the letter at the county’s Wayne Dumont Jr. Administration Building, flanked by photos showing the majestic view that will be compromised by the project.

-30-

FULL TEXT OF FREEHOLDER DIRECTOR GARDNER’S LETTER

December 30, 2020

The New Jersey State Department of Transportation is currently planning to construct a sixty-foot tall barrier fence in the Delaware Water Gap area of Interstate Route 80.  DOT’s claim to this $65 million project is the need to prevent rockfalls onto I-80.

Rockfalls on I-80 are actually a rare occurrence.  It begs the question, why is our state DOT so gung-ho to charge ahead and spend tens of millions of taxpayers’ money on this project.  Is there not legislative oversight?  Does Governor Phil Murphy know how his DOT is operating and does he care about the negative impacts of this scheduled project?

The likelihood and probability in that this project by the DOT’s current plans may cause more harm to the motoring public than it could ever mitigate!

One must also ask why there are no plans by the DOT to realign the S-Curve on I-80 which is a genuine problem and site of many accidents.

As a long time elected public servant, one of the first things I always ask is this:  What is the relative value to the public for the dollars expended.  At this point in time the DOT’s plans do not even pass the smell test.

Citizens of Warren County are becoming increasingly upset and in some cases outraged at the very thought of desecration to the beautiful vista of the Delaware Water Gap.  The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S.

Has the NJ DOT even considered the significance of this natural iconic view shed from the standpoint of the motoring public, county and state residents and from the indigenous tribal nations?

There are certainly other engineering possibilities that would actually improve the S-curve issues of I-80 and leave Mount Tammany intact as it is today.  The DOT should examine how Interstate Route 70 was constructed through the state of Colorado.  Environmentally issues were of paramount concern; the EPA worked hand-in-hand with the Federal Highway Administration to conclude a mutual best plan.  Some of I-70 lies adjacent to the Colorado River.

If this project by the NJ DOT continues as per their plans, four to five years; this will cause nightmares for the motoring public.  Additionally, causing continued grief and financial pains to area communities in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Many of our good neighbors in eastern PA are annoyed because there is a true lack of communication by the NJ DOT.

The only positive I see for this project is that a handful of private contractors are going to make some big money!

At this juncture, I condemn the current plans of the State of New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Very truly yours,

Richard D. Gardner

Warren County Freeholder Director