NJDOT announces traffic pattern changes at
I-78/Garden State Parkway Interchange 142

(Trenton) –The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced upcoming traffic pattern changes related to the I-78/Garden State Parkway Interchange 142 reconstruction project in Union and Hillside, Union County.

On Wednesday, March 11, NJDOT will begin overnight closures of the Garden State Parkway northbound ramp from Exit 142A to Union Avenue. The closures are necessary for structural steel construction on the new flyover ramp from the Garden State Parkway northbound to I-78 westbound. The Exit 142A ramp to Union Avenue will be closed nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Garden State Parkway traffic headed for Union Avenue will continue on to Exit 143 to Claremont Avenue to Union Avenue. Periodic overnight single and double-lane closures on the Garden State Parkway in both directions will also be necessary during the same hours. This work is weather permitting and anticipated to continue until Thursday, March 26.

On Friday night, March 20, NJDOT will close the right lane and shoulder on the I-78 eastbound local lanes between mileposts 53.02 and 53.5 for pavement reconstruction and drainage work associated with widening the eastbound local lanes. Three lanes will be maintained on I-78 eastbound from milepost 53.5 to Exit 54, in order to accommodate the traffic merge from Garden State Parkway northbound to I-78 eastbound. This traffic pattern will remain in place for approximately eight months. During this eight-month period, NJDOT will also widen the I-78 bridges over the Elizabeth River, the Garden State Parkway and Glenwood Avenue.

The $149 million rehabilitation project will improve traffic flow at the interchange by building the two missing ramp moves from the Garden State Parkway to I-78. New ramps will be constructed from the Garden State Parkway northbound to I-78 westbound and the Garden State Parkway southbound to I-78 eastbound, which will reduce congestion. In addition, NJDOT will reconstruct a one-mile stretch of pavement on I-78, widen the bridges on I-78, add new acceleration and deceleration lanes, and relocate noise-barriers. The reconstruction of the I-78 pavement will ensure a smoother and safer surface for the truck traffic that uses this corridor to access the nearby port facilities. NJDOT, the federal government and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority funded the project, which is scheduled for completion in January 2012.

Construction began in May 2008. Variable Message Signs on the Garden State Parkway and I-78 will inform motorists of the traffic pattern changes. Real time traffic information is available online at www.511nj.org.