STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The National Weather Service is forecasting the weather to be mid 70s and sunny this weekend -- perfect for outdoor fall activities before it starts getting cold.
However, Borough President James Oddo's forecast isn't so sunny -- he's predicting "utter chaos."
In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, Oddo spoke about the "spectacular fall weather" headed our way this weekend and how families will head to New Jersey to pick apples and pumpkins.
But then they have to return to Staten Island.
"And guess what? They will email, Facebook and tweet at me on Sunday night and rage how the interchange at Exit 13 on the NJ Turnpike or the approach to the Outerbridge Crossing is utter chaos and rant at how dumb it is not having the Bayonne Bridge open," the post read.
All summer, Staten Island motorists endured hours of congestion on Routes 440 and 35, especially near the Outerbridge Crossing and Perth Amboy, N.J., while coming back from the Jersey Shore and other parts of the state.
The closure of the Bayonne Bridge added to the congestion, leaving the Goethals and Outerbridge as the only options to return back to the borough.
After much outrage, the Port Authority announced that the Bayonne Bridge would remain open every Sunday evening to help ease the congestion.
Since summer's end, the Bayonne has been closed on Sundays.
"Despite our impassioned plea, I was just told the PA will not keep the Bayonne Bridge open ... so caution to Staten Islanders: You travel this weekend, yet again, at your own (agita) peril," Oddo's post went on to say.
PORT AUTHORITY RESPONDS
Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman responded to Oddo's Facebook post by pointing out how the Port Authority opened the Bayonne Bridge every Sunday by 3 p.m. over the summer, in addition to major holiday weekends, including the Jewish holidays in September, to alleviate traffic at the Outerbridge Crossing and Goethals Bridge.
"We've even had extra PAPD officers stationed at the Outerbridge Crossing to make sure any accidents or disabled vehicles are cleared as quickly as possible to minimize any traffic backups," Coleman said.
"That said, we are working diligently to get this project done and there is important construction work that must be done this weekend, since the end of the summer/fall construction season will be here soon. We regret having to close the bridge, but I'm sure Staten Island residents, including those who live around the bridge, want this project done," he said.
"Yeah, a big cement pour scheduled; we get it,'' Oddo concluded. "We'd really hate to delay the Bayonne Bridge project ... oh, wait, the PA is already forever behind schedule."
PERTH AMBOY BLOCKAGE
In July, Perth Amboy police began blocking off local roads, preventing motorists travelling to Staten Island from using them as a way to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic along Routes 440 and 35.
"We have been very clear with the NY/NJ Port Authority in that we will not allow our residential areas to be used as a 'short-cut' to cause gridlock conditions, which pose significant impacts to public safety," Diaz said.
"This has been an issue for year, but this year for several summer weeks, traffic was brought to a standstill on our side streets. Our residents could not leave their homes to get to work and no emergency personnel could enter these streets," she said.
The statement was spurred by a complaint by Councilman Joseph C. Borelli (R-South Shore) about the Perth Amboy Police Department's practice of keeping motorists with New York license plates on Route 440 on their way to the Outerbridge Crossing, and not allowing them to use sides streets though the town.
Borelli countered: "I appreciate her (Diaz) trying to make every effort to avoid traffic through her city, but it's wrong to station police officers on exit ramps and have people sorted out by license plates, where New York drivers are forced to get back on a highway."
LETTER WRITTEN
Borelli, along with his colleagues -- including Borough President James Oddo, Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) Congressman Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Ron Castorina (R-South Shore) -- expressed their concern "about the behavior of officials in the town of Perth Amboy," in a letter to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The contingent of electeds are requesting that Schneiderman look into the legality of the actions taken by Perth Amboy and provide an opinion so that New York State elected and transportation officials can pursue a resolution, said Borelli.
Schneiderman didn't respond to an Advance request seeking comment about the letter.