NJDOT announces traffic pattern
changes on Route 139 in Jersey City

(Trenton) - Commissioner Stephen Dilts today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will change the traffic pattern on the Route 139 approach to the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City. The roadway will return to the lane configuration that was in place before the start of the $225 million Route 139 reconstruction project.

“NJDOT appreciates the patience and cooperation of motorists, residents and local officials during the past four years of construction on the Route 139 reconstruction project,” said Commissioner Dilts.

On Friday, April 24 at 9 p.m., NJDOT will remove all remaining construction barriers from the 12th Street Viaduct/Route 139 eastbound and restripe the roadway to accommodate four eastbound travel lanes. NJDOT will also permanently close the eastbound contra-flow lane along the 14th Street Viaduct/Route 139 westbound and return it to a westbound travel lane. In addition, NJDOT will convert the traffic signal at 12th Street and Jersey Avenue to its original, three-phase configuration.

On Saturday, April 25, motorists travelling eastbound at the Jersey Avenue intersection will be permitted to turn left toward Hoboken from the New Jersey Turnpike extension and turn right (toward Jersey City) from 12th Street/Route 139.

The Route 139 rehabilitation is a federally-funded project to rehabilitate and reconstruct the structurally deficient 12th and 14th Streets Viaducts. Construction began in May 2005 and completion of the project is scheduled for August 2009.

Route 139 is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the nation. The roadway links the Holland Tunnel, Routes 1&9T, the I-78 New Jersey Turnpike Extension and local roads in Jersey City and Hoboken. Each day, an estimated 50,000 vehicles travel these roads and bridges to and from the Holland Tunnel.

NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, weekly construction schedule updates and real time traffic cameras at www.511nj.org. In addition, variable messaging signs are posted along roadways to alert motorists of changes to traffic patterns and offer alternate route information.