NJDOT Accelerates I-80 Project In Bergen County
The New Jersey Department of Transportation, in conjunction with its contractor, Bishop-Sanzari & Creamer, and the Federal Highway Administration, has developed a plan to finish the Route I-80 re-construction project in Bergen County a year ahead of schedule. The $77 million project, which includes roadway and bridge widening, roadway resurfacing, noise mitigation, and bridge rehabilitation, runs through the municipalities of Saddle Brook, Lodi, and Hackensack in Bergen County.
In order to accelerate the schedule the contractor will be allowed to close the local lanes and maintain three lanes of traffic on the express lanes beginning this week. The local lanes will be closed between the Garden State Parkway and Route 17. Motorists will be able to access Route 17 by using a crossover in the express lanes.
While we expect motorists to encounter delays on the eastbound lanes in the short run, the entire road will be opened to full traffic nearly a year ahead of schedule under this partnering effort with the contractor and FHWA. The sooner we complete the project the better for everyone, especially those who use I-80 every day,” said Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein.
Under the plan the eastbound local lanes will be re-opened after Jan. 1, 2002, and the rest of the eastbound roadway will be open by summer 2002, four months ahead of schedule. The westbound lanes will be restored to four lanes by fall 2002, which is eleven months ahead of schedule. The NJDOT expects to save more than $14 million dollars in road user costs. In addition, the NJDOT is expected to reduce its engineering and construction inspection costs by more than $2 million dollars.
The NJDOT will pay its the contractor an additional $500,000 to accelerate the schedule. The accelerated schedule is supported by all of the local legislators in the area.
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