Assemblyman Says He Will Work for Smooth Transition For Valley Hospital Move; Wants To Address Traffic Issues That May Impede Access To New Facility

Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney (R-LD40) said he would be working with his legislative colleagues and local officials to create a smooth transition for the relocation of Valley Hospital in Ridgewood to its proposed new home in Paramus.

Rooney said that the $735 million investment in a new hospital is good for the regional economy and the health and safety of residents in the area.

“Valley Hospital has been a integral part of, not just Ridgewood, but all of northwest Bergen County for decades, I am very pleased that residents in the area will be able to count on the new facility in Paramus to provide the same high quality care that they have been accustomed to,” said Rooney, the former mayor of Wyckoff.

Rooney said his one concern about the hospital move is access to the new location for emergency responders who will have to travel through some of the most heavily traveled roads in the state. He said he would be working with the State Department of Transportation and local officials to address highway congestion issues, most notably the convergence of Route 208 and Route 4 at the Paramus, Fair Lawn border.

“The highway bottleneck on Route 4 is notorious and I will be working with the DOT, other agencies and local officials to make sure that traffic tie ups can be alleviated so our emergency responders can have quick and easy access to the new Valley facility,” said Rooney.

The assemblyman said he was pleased to hear during today’s announcement about the hospital’s move to Paramus that the existing Ridgewood location will serve the community as an urgent care and laboratory facility, as well as providing ambulatory and outpatient services.

“It is comforting to know that the area residents who have been accustom to the hospital in Ridgewood will continue to be able to get quality health care services locally,” said Rooney.
Valley anticipates breaking ground in 2019 on the new facility in Paramus with completion expected to be in 2023. The new hospital will be comprised of 372 beds and will cost an estimated at $735 million.

“The investment in a new medical facility of this size and dimension will be a benefit to the region.  I look forward to working with hospital executives during the transition from the current hospital to the new facility. I will also be available to meet and address the concerns my constituents  have about their medical care accessibility,” said Rooney.

 

Contact: 973-237-1362