Any word on whether the closing times are legit or just the work of some overeager sign maker at Newport HQ? NY's Sixth has a link to a NY Times interview with Monsieur LeFrak himself, where he brags it will be opened by our dear Gov'ner. Love that his proudest accomplishment is that he hasn't been hauled off in handcuffs yet.

Anyway, I am ready to raise some hell about these insane time restrictions, but am awaiting my marching orders from those in the know.

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It's to keep people from traveling between Hoboken and JC.

On countless occasions, I have decided to stay in JC or go to NY rather than go to Hoboken, because the walk back would be late at night when it's simply not safe. Even doing that walk in the daytime surpasses what some people consider reasonable.

It's safe to say that the waterfront walkway would be far safer than waking by Holland Gardens, Discount Liqour And Bar, or one of the crack spots.

I contacted the NJDEP about the waterfront walkway and the ownership / regulation of the walkway and am waiting to hear back.

Time restrictions on the waterfront walkway would actually contradict the information available on their website:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/cmp/czm_hudson.html

"Under the Coastal Zone Management rules, each new development or redevelopment project in the area is required to construct and maintain a segment of the Walkway ?coincident with the shoreline of the development? according to established design guidelines and standards. The rules require that 24-hour public access be provided for recreational use of the walkway."

The posted hours seem crazy! This is not some small park tucked away where evening and late night shenanigans need to be curtailed, it will be a major pedestrian thoroughfare. Are there any other parts of the riverfront walkway that are closed at any time?

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Um....

Nah, too easy.

closes at 7pm/9pm? What's the point of even opening it at all.

as if drunks can't just go drown themselves somewhere else. Also who is so drunk they can drown themselves at 7pm?

The light rail runs until quarter to two. The Montclair line last train arrives at 12:15. The Bergen/Main Line arrives at 12:30 (1am on weekends). So yes, the "closing" times are inappropriate.

to keep the drunks from falling in and drowning.

yeah #OOPS# those hours what use is that?

If it's already done, why won't they open it already?! ...and what's up with the hours?

This is what I was talking about in that Shore Club vs. Mandalay thread:

http://blog.nj.com/hobokennow_impact/ ... arge_signageatwalkway.JPG

(I wasn't quite right---it's open year-round, but closes early enough in the evening in the winter that it won't be very useful for daily commuters)

Oh man, "Next month". And it has hours. Lame.

Pictures at the link and text reposted below.

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ss ... pedestrian_bridge_fr.html

Long Slip pedestrian bridge from Jersey City to Hoboken to open in September
by Carly Baldwin/The Jersey Journal
Wednesday August 26, 2009, 4:20 PM
Carly Baldwin/The Jersey JournalThe completed Long Slip pedestrian walkway connects the Newport section of Jersey City and downtown Hoboken.

The long-awaited Long Slip pedestrian walkway is complete and ready for use, except for one problem: It's not open to the public yet.

The walkway will open sometime in September, but officials from NJ Transit, which constructed the bridge, declined to give an exact date.

"I don't know why it's not open yet," said Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who deferred all other questions to NJ Transit.

Construction on the walkway began in 2007 and the walkway was anticipated to open in spring of this year.

The 175-foot-long, 30-foot-wide bridge spans the Long Slip Canal. The walkway connects the downtown section of Hoboken to the Newport area of Jersey City, built up by mega developer LeFrak. The walkway connects Newport residents to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station, the PATH, buses and the New York Waterways ferries at Hoboken Terminal.

The bridge costs $6.4 million, much of it in federal funds, to build. West Cranford-engineering firm Simpson & Brown, Inc. was awarded the contract to build the walkway in 2007.

"We've been getting emails asking when is this thing finally going to open," said Hoboken resident Helen Manogue. Manogue is the president of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway Conservancy, a group which pushes for the completion of a public Hudson River promenade.

According to a state-mandate, the walkway is one day meant to stretch, unbroken, from Bayonne to Fort Lee. Per state law, when a developer builds on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, they are required to construct a portion of the walkway.

"Our objective is to see that the so-called 'gaps' in the walkway are filled," said Manogue. "It's supposed to be an 18.5 linear mile stretch running along the waterfront. It's taken 21 years and we still don't have it completed."

Once fully completed, the walkway will be a continuous system of parks, piers and open space along the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay waterfront, extending from the George Washington Bridge to the Bayonne Bridge.

I'll bet the fence will be back up in Hoboken before we can say F&*K Lefrak and NJ Transit.

Noticed today that the "wind" had knocked down the chainlink fence at the light rail stop side of the bridge, so you can walk as far as the closed gate on the Newport walkway right at the end of the bridge. I guess NJT is done with its part, and now its up to Lefrak to open up his side.

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I ran by last weekend and it was still fenced off. It looked like there were still some guardrails to put up, so I'd be surprised if it was open by now.

I have been away for a few weeks. Anyone know the status on this bridge?

I remember coming back from a ride down river road and seeing signs pointing to the new bridge. I thought, awesome it's open, but I was denied. looks like they need to remove some temporary construction walls. I think they plan to go around back of the train tracks between the water.

I think the delay is caused by the lack of a plan for what to do with all of us when we get INTO the Hoboken train staion.
Can't go THROUGH it running and biking, can't go around the water side (that's where the old ferry slips are.)
Can't safely have a walkway crossing the busy Light Rail tracks in FRONT of the trains.

In other words, how do you get from the Light Rail Station to Sinatra Park?

If I am correct it will be YEARS before they sort this out.

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Thank you!

Sounds like we just need some wire cutters.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3070374

At this rate summer 2010.

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I'm new to town and have just started running in the area. Where is the entrance to the bridge? If someone could draw it on a google map use http://www.gmap-pedometer.com, that would be awesome!

Thanks!

They just put up the last bit of fence that was missing a few days ago. NJT may need to change the way they have the western edge of the light rail station fenced off, but other than that I can't see anything left to do.

I hope they open it in time to enjoy this summer.

The Newport section has been complete for awhile. It should be open into Hoboken by the end of this month.

Is this bridge finally done?

I guess they can't get the City Council President or the Deputy mayor.
Rumour has it they were both just arrested by the FBI! OY!


Ain't JOISEY grand?

There must be SOMEBODY left to cut a ribbon?

Paging Michelle Obama! I'll even let her ride on my handlebars around Sinatra Park!

Waiting for the Guvnor to show up?

Oh GOd...I'm getting too old for this...now August.

And that's 9 days away...

20 years and counting!


They need to install one piece of railing about 15 feet long that is laying right there on the concrete for the last two weeks! I could have done it 15 times over during commercials on TV in that time.