MAYOR STEVEN FULOP, COUNCILMEMBERS JAMES SOLOMON AND YOUSEF SALEH APPLAUD THE LAUNCH OF LONG-AWAITED COLES STREET UNDERPASS REDESIGN

JERSEY CITY, NJ—Last Thursday, the Jersey City Municipal Council approved a resolution to begin construction on the redesign of the Coles Street underpass. This act represents the final step before construction begins, which will completely renovate the area to create a safe, clean, lighted passage between Hamilton Park and the Holland Gardens neighborhood with pedestrian walkways and protected bicycle lanes. The underpass renovation will also make more open, community space under 12th St. and include separated sewers to reduce water pollution.

“The councilmen have worked closely with us to prioritize this improvement project to help connect neighborhoods near Holland Gardens, the Embankment House, and the other side of 12th Street near the Holland Tunnel entrance with a new bikeway, reconstructed sidewalks, utility upgrades, and safety improvements,” said Mayor Fulop.

“My office has been working with Mayor Fulop, Councilman Saleh, community members, Jersey City’s Department of Infrastructure and key stakeholders for years to make Jersey City and Ward E’s streets safer,” said Ward E Councilmember James Solomon, who represents part of the area where the Coles Street underpass is located. “The redevelopment of the Coles Street underpass is a critical step in building a more resilient, more open, and more pedestrian-friendly Jersey City – and with construction set to begin next month, our city can look forward to just that by the end of the year.”

“When I attended McNair Academic High School in the early to mid 2000’s the Coles St. underpass was a no-man’s land, neither friendly to cars or pedestrians,” said Ward D Councilmember Yousef Saleh, who represents the other half of the area where the Coles Street Underpass project is located. “The area is not only growing, but bustling with life and activity, and this Coles Street underpass redevelopment project is a huge leap forward towards a more pedestrian-friendly, safe, and environmentally resilient Jersey City, benefiting residents of both Wards D and Ward E. It will include I would like to extend my enormous gratitude to Mayor Fulop, Councilman Solomon, Director Barkha Patel, the Department of Infrastructure staff, and all stakeholders for their contributions to this project. I am looking forward to its completion and the positive impact this project will have on our community.”

Construction on the underpass is set to begin in April and last through 2024.

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James Solomon represents downtown Jersey City as the Councilmember for Ward E. He is focused on building a just city with affordable housing and improved mass transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure. He is also an adjunct professor of political science at Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey City University, and Hudson County Community College.