This Day in History: 1954-06-09
State Highway Commissioner Dwight Palmer announced plans for making Route 17 a divided highway between the Ramsey Circle and the New York State line in Hillburn. State authorities were convinced that the high volume of traffic on the three lane road contributed heavily to the high fatalities there. According to state statistics more than 12,750 cars and trucks used the stretch every day. This was 7% more than in 1953, Palmer reported. Many head-on collisions had taken place on the straight section of the highway between Ramapo Avenue and the Ramsey border. Palmer said that state authorities expected even more traffic on Route 17 when the Ford plant was in operation and the New York State Thruway intersection was completed at Suffern. Plans called for a six lane highway with a wide safety strip in the center. The first section to be constructed was to be the 1-1/10 mile section between Hillburn and the Rampo River, with a second bridge across the Ramapo River at Hillburn Road. Later the section between the River and the Ramsey Circle was to be constructed. This section would include bridges over Valley Road and the Erie Railroad. Ramapo Avenue, Spring Street, and North Central Avenue (Island Road) were to cross the road on bridges as well. The existing bridges at Ramapo Avenue and over the railroad would have to be widened. The others were new. Traffic flow locally was expected to be much improved. (Bristow)