In January, NJ Transit will open a new light rail station and park-and-ride along a stretch of Routes 1&9 in Hudson County where the state transportation department is about to begin a 42-month road reconstruction project, according to the Star-Ledger.

That means commuters heading to the new station will have to make their way through congestion-causing lane closures on a state highway -- also known as Tonnelle Avenue -- that is already notorious for traffic jams and accidents.

"It's not ideal, certainly," said Jon Orcutt, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a watchdog group. "It may keep some people from using it. In a perfect world, all these construction projects would be coordinated."

Highway officials say they have no choice but to start the highway construction job at the same time NJ Transit is opening the rail station.

They insist they could not have done the road work before the station was built because of the state's transportation funding problems, which made it difficult to set aside the $60 million for the construction.

They also frowned on the idea of postponing the road improvements, even though a delay might allow the new light rail station to attract loyal customers before highway construction makes it difficult to get there, they said.

"The pavement in that area is very old, it's uneven and undulating in places," Transportation Department spokesman Eric Phalon said. "The road is in bad shape, and it needs to be reconstructed as soon as possible."

Transit officials seem to be taking the situation in stride.

"Some people may be more likely to pull off and take the light rail because of (the road construction)," said Rich Sarles, NJ Transit's assistant executive director.

Phalon said construction along Tonnelle Avenue will begin in December and take about 3 1/2 years. The state will replace the pavement, widen traffic lanes, improve drainage, install new sidewalks and upgrade traffic signals.

The project covers a 6.2-mile stretch of the road from Secaucus Road in North Bergen to Broad Avenue in Palisades Park. Starting in February, the state will begin shutting down half-mile sections of one lane of the two-lane road.

The light rail station, with a 700-space park-and-ride, sits in the middle of all that.

The station will be the northernmost stop on the $2.2 billion line that winds through Hudson County and provides access to jobs in the region's growing financial district as well as to mass transit systems to Manhattan.

Eventually, NJ Transit plans to build a commuter rail connection from Bergen County down to the light rail station. But that's at least five years away.

In the meantime, transit officials expect the light rail station to be used by commuters who will drive down Tonnelle Avenue to get there.

"The new light rail station is going to be a significant asset for the area," said Nicholas Sacco, a Democratic state senator and the mayor of North Bergen. "But I don't think you're going to see optimal use of the station until all the components are completed."

"There have been studies that show the traffic will be manageable," said Sacco, who is also chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "But I could see why people might be discouraged from using it for a while."

Transportation officials put the light rail station toward the northern end of Tonnelle Avenue to avoid being near the infamous Tonnelle Circle, where grueling rush-hour traffic jams are routine.

Folks who live and work near the light rail station are eager for its opening.

"It's going to be great for business around here," said Stephen Hepperle, who lives in North Bergen.

What about difficulties people might have getting to the station during the road construction?

"Traffic is already bad here," he said. "It's 20 minutes of hell unless you know the streets to get around it. At least with the light rail, you'll be able to avoid some of the traffic."