NJDOT announces all lanes open for holiday season on Routes 23, 46 and I-80 in Wayne

NJDOT will improve access to Willowbrook Mall and area shopping destinations

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that all bridges, ramps and travel lanes on Routes 23, 46 and I-80 in Wayne, Passaic County have been opened to traffic in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

“Reopening the Route 23, 46 and 80 ramps will benefit shoppers, merchants and holiday travelers, as well as the commuters and residents who travel these vital roads every day” said Commissioner Kolluri. “NJDOT will continue to reconstruct the interchange as part of our regional initiative to improve the Route 46 corridor from Clifton to Fairfield.”

"During this stressful holiday season, we can be thankful that the newly opened spaghetti bowl will give local resident one less thing to worry about," stated U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-08), who has directed millions in federal dollars to the 46/23/80 interchange as a member of the House Transportation Committee. "We still have significant work to do in straightening out this complex roadway, but I appreciate that NJDOT has made great progress. Commuters will have an easier time getting to and from work, commerce will be made easier, and families will feel safer on the renovated roadway."

NJDOT has reconstructed eight of the nine bridges to be repaired as part of the Route 23/80/46 reconstruction project. Construction of the I-80 westbound ramp to Route 23 southbound will take place from January to November 2008. The bridge will be closed and traffic from Route 80 westbound to Route 23 southbound will be detoured via Route 23 northbound to the West Belt Interchange.

The $70 million Route 46/23/80 project will improve Route 46 from the Passaic River to Galesi Drive in Wayne. The project includes the replacement of nine bridge decks, roadway realignment and resurfacing, ramp modification and the addition of signs, lighting, guide rails and acceleration and deceleration lanes. The Route 46/23/80 project is part of NJDOT’s $195.4 million initiative to improve safety on Route 46 from Clifton to Fairfield. The project is scheduled to be complete in November 2008.

Real time travel and construction information is available online at https://nj-dot.nj.gov/transportation/commuter/. Information regarding ridesharing, public transportation and park and rides serving the Route 23/46/80 project area also can be found online.