Christie Supports Parkway Widening – Nothing To Say on Tree Massacre

Aerials of the Garden State Parkway tree clearing project from Somers Point to Bass River. South of Bass River. Friday March 18, 2011. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic),

The Atlantic City Press has done outstanding investigative reporting and written scathing editorials criticizing the Turnpike Authority’s “Tree Massacre” along 30 miles of Garden State Parkway.

The “Tree Massacre” has spurrred widespread public outrage, condemnation by local officials, and calls for legislative oversight hearings by Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May).

So we’ve been waiting patiently for the Governor to at least make a statement, or preferably YouTube some of his notorius bombastic outrage over an out of control and unaccountable bureaucratic authority.

Well, as we suspected, guess that’s not gonna happen.

Today, the AC Press reports that Christie issued a press release to support the Parkway widening and apparently had nothing at all to say about the “Tree Masssacre”.

How could the Governor have nothing to say, but instead have the balls to issue a press release SUPPORTING the widening? That’s another huge insult to the people of the state:

Christie says widening of Garden State Parkway between Manahawkin and Somers Point will move forward

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2011 7:55 pm | Updated: 9:13 am, Sat Apr 16, 2011.

The state is moving forward with plans to add a third lane to the Garden State Parkway between milepost 30 in Somers Point and milepost 63 in Stafford Township.

Gov. Chris Christie announced the move in a release Friday, stating that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has prioritized enough money for the project. The governor said widening the parkway is a decision that makes sense for summer tourism and expanding an evacuation route, the release said.

The widening project will span from Somers Point to milepost 80 in Toms River. Construction on the first phase, from Stafford Township to Toms River – and widening and rehabilitation of the Mullica River, Bass River and Patcong Creek bridges – should be complete by Memorial Day, the release said.

Construction on the second phase between milepost 48 in Port Republic and Stafford Township will be bid by June, the release said. The final phase to add the lane between Somers Point and Port Republic will be completed later, the release said.