NJDOT announces closure of Route 18

northbound ramp in New Brunswick

(Trenton)— The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that beginning Friday night, July 13, the Route 18 northbound ramp to Albany Street/Route 27 northbound will close as part of the Route 18 rehabilitation project in New Brunswick.

The ramp will remain closed for approximately six weeks and will reopen by the end of August 2007. During the closure, Route 18 northbound traffic will detour onto New Street, make a right turn onto Neilson Street and make a right turn onto Albany/Route 27 north.

The project is reconstructing a dilapidated stretch of Route 18 from Route 1 to the NJ TRANSIT/Amtrak Northeast Corridor rail bridge and will add auxiliary lanes in both directions to reduce the extreme congestion caused by vehicles traveling in and out of downtown New Brunswick. The project began in August 2005 and has progressed on schedule.

Motorists are encouraged to drive carefully to protect themselves and workers in the construction zone. NJDOT has placed Variable Message Signs on Route 18, Route 1 and Route 27 to inform motorists of the changes in traffic pattern.

Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.njcommuter.com. Information regarding ridesharing, public transportation and park and rides serving the Route 18 project area also can be found online. NJDOT’s Route 18 website, http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/route18/, lists the specific construction work currently taking place on the Route 18 project.