Passaic County is receiving $8.56 million in federal grant funds to make improvements to Lakeview Avenue in Paterson. Funds will be used to make safety and aesthetic improvements to 11 intersections on Lakeview Avenue from Market Street to Crooks Avenue.

The traffic circle at Lakeview Avenue and Market Street will be replaced with a new roundabout that’s designed to minimize serious collisions. The roundabout expected to be installed at the site can reduce crashes that result in serious injuries and fatalities by 80 percent, according to the county.

Four lanes on Lakeview Avenue will be converted into two lanes with dedicated left turn lanes at each intersection and buffered bicycle lanes. The central divider will feature a greenspace for pedestrian safety and traffic calming. It will also serve to beautify the Lakeview neighborhood. Lighting, drainage, and traffic signals will be upgraded as part of the project.

“This grant will help us make Lakeview Avenue safer for people who travel this road every day, particularly for people walking and cycling,” Passaic County freeholder John Bartlett, vice chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) board, said. “We identified the Lakeview Avenue corridor as a priority because it ranks among the top 10 in the county for pedestrian and bicycle crashes.”

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority approved the award on Monday.

“As a resident of Paterson, who has spoken directly with the families who deal daily with the impacts of speeding, I know firsthand how much these improvements will make the Lakeview section a safer and more beautiful place to walk, drive, and bike,” Passaic County freeholder Assad Akhter said.

Passaic County officials collected public input before coming up with four concepts to redesign Lakeview Avenue. Residents later voted on the design they wanted for their neighborhood.