SECAUCUS - Allied Junction developer William McCann and Mayor Dennis Elwell hailed last week's contract award by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for part of the design of a new Turnpike interchange servicing the southern end of Secaucus.

A summer 2004 opening has been projected for the new 1.5 mile interchange, which is to be carved out of wetlands, about two miles south of Turnpike Exits 16E and 18E.

The authority gave out $3 million in contracts covering design and environmental work for the interchange, which will link the Turnpike's easter spur, via Seaview Drive, with NJ Transit's Secaucus Transfer Station, now under construction, and the $1 billion Allied Junction office, hotel and retail development proposed for the top of the station.

McCann, executive director of Secaucus Connection LLC, the development arm of Allied Junction Corp., said: "It's nice to see that our efforts have not gone unnoticed. ... We'd like to see the (2004) completion date moved up."

Under terms of a development contract between Allied and the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission, the new interchange must be in place before construction on Allied Junction can begin, although Allied could apply for a waiver if, for example, work on the interchange was progressing, McCann said.