Route 280 (Frontage Roads), Essex Avenue to Steuben Street
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NJDOT is conducting a Concept Development study for safety improvements along the Route 280 Frontage Roads (Freeway Drives) in the Cities of Orange Township and East Orange in Essex County, NJ. The study area includes Freeway Drive East and Freeway Drive West between Essex Avenue and Munn Avenue.
The Freeway Drives provide local access to residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, community facilities, and three NJ TRANSIT rail stations: Orange, Brick Church, and East Orange. The study will evaluate opportunities to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users while supporting NJDOT’s Complete Streets Policy and Safe System Approach.
Project Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate improvements that address roadway safety concerns along the Route 280 Frontage Roads (Freeway Drives) corridor. The corridor has experienced a high number of vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes and has been identified by NJDOT as needing further investigation. The study aims to develop context-sensitive solutions that improve safety and accessibility for all roadway users while enhancing connections between surrounding neighborhoods, business districts, community destinations, and transit facilities.
Project Delivery Process
NJDOT has implemented a Project Delivery Process that complies with both federal and state regulations. This process encompasses the entire lifecycle of a project, from initiation to construction. Currently, this study is in the Concept Development Phase.
The study corridor extends through a densely developed urban area characterized by a mix of residential, commercial, institutional, and transportation-related land uses. The Freeway Drives serve as important local connections between adjacent neighborhoods and the Route 280 corridor and provide access to schools, libraries, municipal facilities, parks, businesses, and regional transit services.
As part of the Concept Development process, NJDOT will collect and analyze transportation data, identify factors contributing to crashes, and evaluate potential improvement alternatives. Potential improvements may include traffic signal upgrades, enhanced pedestrian crossings, ADA-compliant curb ramps, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, traffic calming measures, roadway lighting enhancements, pavement marking and signage upgrades, and other operational or safety improvements. The study will consider community needs, multimodal travel patterns, and access to key destinations throughout the corridor while seeking solutions that can be implemented primarily within existing NJDOT right-of-way.
Project Milestones
How We’re Engaging
Public participation is essential for the success of NJDOT’s transportation programs and projects. The organization is dedicated to including the community’s voices in transportation decision-making. Here are the outreach efforts that will allow community members to help shape this project.
Public meetings to share project information and updates will be scheduled over the course of the project. Community members and stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide feedback and engage directly with the project team to ask questions and share suggestions. Please check back to this project website for updates on future public meetings.
View the Project Flyer
Please share feedback on your experience using the Freeway Drives and any issues or ideas for improvement you may have for improving safety, mobility, and multimodal access along the corridor. This survey takes approximately 5-7 minutes.