Bergen Justice Center construction fumes close courthouse rooms

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: The jury room, grand jury room and criminal records office in the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack were closed this morning after fumes from the construction site of the new county Justice Center infiltrated the ventilation system.

Photo Credit: *Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter*

Jerry DeMarco

12/06/2013 6:06 p.m.

Jurors and staffers were relocated to other parts of the building.

The strong, acrid odor began yesterday and apparently increased in intensity overnight, sources told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

It wasn’t believed to be diesel from the excavation equipment.

Apparently, the fog and high temperatures have held the fumes close to the ground, where they’re being pulled into the building by the HVAC system.

Administrators expected to have the problem resolved before the courthouse reopens Monday morning.

STORY / PHOTO: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter

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