NJDOT to open Route 280 Eastbound Bridge in Roseland
NJDOT replaces bridge in three weeks
(Trenton)—Commissioner Kris Kolluri today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) replaced the Route 280 Eastbound Bridge over the Morristown-Erie Railroad and will open the bridge to traffic on Friday, May 19 at 11 p.m. The NJDOT project to ensure safety on the span, located from mileposts 3.37-4.71 in Roseland, Essex County, will be completed within three weeks of the April 28 start date.
The replacement of the bridge using traditional, cast-in-place installation would have required nine to twelve months of roadwork. NJDOT replaced the bridge’s deck and beams in such a short period of time by implementing Hyperbuild techniques. NJDOT’s contractor, Union Paving & Construction, fabricated the bridge deck panels offsite and transported them to the project location for installation. NJDOT successfully used a similar method to replace bridge decks on Route 1 at Olden Avenue in Trenton and the Route 46 Overpeck Creek Bridge in Ridgefield Park under an accelerated construction schedule.
“Hyperbuild enables NJDOT to reduce congestion, improve safety and rehabilitate and replace bridges and roads faster,” said Commissioner Kolluri. “These guidelines allowed NJDOT to save taxpayer dollars while minimizing the inconvenience experienced by motorists and opening the bridge ahead of schedule.”
The Hyperbuild project strategy condenses the scoping, design, and construction phases of a road project's development. NJDOT implements new and innovative construction and design concepts to streamline projects and accelerate their delivery.
NJDOT designed and contracted the $4 million, federally funded Route 280 Eastbound Bridge replacement project on an aggressive schedule. The Department identified the existing bridge’s structural deficiencies during a routine, biannual inspection in May 2005. Within a week, NJDOT performed emergency repairs to ensure the existing bridge’s safety and began designing a replacement bridge. NJDOT solicited bids for the construction of the replacement bridge in early August and awarded the contract in early October 2005.
During construction, all eastbound lanes were closed, shifting traffic to the westbound lanes. Temporary shifting of traffic and the temporary closure of some travel lanes was required. These shifts and closures were strategically implemented to expedite the project and minimize inconvenience to area motorists.
The left lane on Route 280 westbound will be closed for approximately two more weeks as the Department finalizes construction. Two through lanes will be maintained during peak traffic hours.
