Have you tried to park in the lot adjacent to the Millburn Deli in the last week? Cross from the north side of Millburn Avenue to the south side?

The area has become a bit of a mess, especially at lunch time, because of the construction to replace the bridge just east of Main Street. The sidewalk is closed over the bridge on the south side, so people are crossing the road in the middle of the block if they want to go to the deli, Basilico or the other stores in the vicinity. And traffic can back up on Millburn Avenue as people try to make the right turn into the very small deli lot.

But a police officer had been in the area by the deli and Basilico directing traffic, easing those back-ups. Plus he would stop traffic to help people, which include mothers with small children, cross the street to get to lunch.

I say "had been" because a police officer hasn't been in the area the last few days.

On Tuesday afternoon, the project to replace the bridge stopped. Construction is delayed so Verizon can stabilize an underground telephone wire near the bridge. The estimate on the delay is three to five weeks, which is concerning in itself.

Because there's no construction, there's no police officer. The officer who is stationed in the area is a special detail, and it's the county who pays for him to be there.

But even if there's no construction, there's still traffic snarls and pedestrians who need to cross the road. The construction zone is still there blocking part of the road, taking away parking and closing the sidewalk. It would be helpful for a police officer to be in the area even if there's no work.

Also, county officials are paying for one police officer, not two. But watching traffic and hearing comments from residents driving in the area, it seems two may be needed.

Because the one officer needs to be near the deli to direct traffic and help pedestrians, there's no one at the corner of Millburn Avenue and Main Street. People are making the left-turn that's supposed to be prohibited during the first phase of construction. The confusion at the corner is only going to escalate as people return from vacation and school starts later this month and into September. It would help to have the two officers in the area to make sure it goes smoothly.