Leonia closes dozens of local roads to out-of-towners

<p>Starting Monday, a&nbsp;Bergen County town will close off dozens of local roads to out-of-towners during rush hour.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 20, 2018, 3:06 AM

Updated 2,299 days ago

Share:

Starting Monday, a Bergen County town will close off dozens of local roads to out-of-towners during rush hour.
Leonia officials said it is all in an effort to alleviate traffic for locals. They said too many people from other towns cut through Leonia on their way to get to the George Washington Bridge to commute to and from Manhattan.
Officials said navigation apps, such as Google Maps and Waze, will often bring drivers through town in an effort to avoid traffic in other parts of the state, creating heavy traffic on many Leonia roads, including Fort Lee Road, Chestnut Street and Howard Terrace.
"If you look down this way as far as you can see, it would be bumper-to-bumper on a Sunday night or in the morning,” said Leonia Councilman Greg Makroulakis.
Leonia residents will need to have a yellow tag on their vehicles as of Monday. The tag will let the Leonia Police Department know that they live in town and are allowed to transverse local roadways.
Sixty roads will now be for locals only, officials said. Those roads will show up as red on the traffic apps, to let drivers know.
"People who are normally using a GPS like Waze will not see these streets as a viable cut through to the bridge because they're out of play,” Leonia Police Chief Tom Rowe said.
Drivers who don’t live in town who are caught on some of the roads can face a $200 fine. Rowe said his officers initially will give motorists warnings, but will eventually begin writing tickets.
Some streets will be blocked by police, and four have been turned into one-way streets. Drivers with the yellow tags will be allowed on these roads.
Officials said the reason for the changes is that they are concerned that if something isn’t done, ambulances and fire trucks won’t be able to travel around the town.
"I think it'll definitely help. The quality of life will definitely improve,” Makroulakis said.
Officials said they spent the last two years studying the plan in preparation.


More from News 12
1:48
Police: Man pulled from Ossining house fire dies at hospital

Police: Man pulled from Ossining house fire dies at hospital

2:16
STORM WATCH: Showers, isolated thunderstorms during Wednesday morning commute

STORM WATCH: Showers, isolated thunderstorms during Wednesday morning commute

1:58
Officials mull traffic safety projects following 5th child struck by car in 5 months in Rockland neighborhood

Officials mull traffic safety projects following 5th child struck by car in 5 months in Rockland neighborhood

0:36
Reports: Body of missing Army National Guard sergeant found

Reports: Body of missing Army National Guard sergeant found

1:08
Hospital workers picket over Westchester Medical Center Health Network layoffs

Hospital workers picket over Westchester Medical Center Health Network layoffs

0:25
Pine Bush man pleads guilty to aggravated vehicular assault that left teen paralyzed

Pine Bush man pleads guilty to aggravated vehicular assault that left teen paralyzed

0:24
Mount Vernon launches new grant program for small businesses

Mount Vernon launches new grant program for small businesses

0:39
Westchester County Health Department to inspect 235 children’s camps ahead of summer

Westchester County Health Department to inspect 235 children’s camps ahead of summer

0:39
 ‘Melanie’s Law’ passes state Senate, heads for final approval

‘Melanie’s Law’ passes state Senate, heads for final approval

0:29
Attorney General James sues local clinics for abortion-reversal claims

Attorney General James sues local clinics for abortion-reversal claims

0:20
East Ramapo parents rally for school reform

East Ramapo parents rally for school reform

0:50
Headlines: Brewster police mourn death of officer, Newburgh man sentenced for rape, Westchester man arrested for larceny

Headlines: Brewster police mourn death of officer, Newburgh man sentenced for rape, Westchester man arrested for larceny

0:29
Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

1:42
24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

1:36
‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

1:49
SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

0:50
Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

1:56
Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

1:01
Tuckahoe Village Board hears Ward House appeal

Tuckahoe Village Board hears Ward House appeal

0:23
State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie

State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie