NJDOT announces weekend lane closures
on Route 18 southbound in New Brunswick

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced upcoming lane closures on Route 18 in New Brunswick as part of NJDOT’s $200 million Route 18 reconstruction project.

On Friday night, May 15 at 11 p.m., NJDOT will begin lane closures on Route 18 southbound from north of Paulus Boulevard to Route 1 in New Brunswick for roadway reconstruction work. One lane of Route 18 southbound will remain open at all times. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes on Saturday, May 16. All lanes will reopen by Sunday, May 17 at 9 a.m.

The traffic pattern shifts are part of NJDOT’s $200 million Route 18 reconstruction project, which will rebuild a dilapidated stretch of Route 18 from Route 1 to the NJ TRANSIT/Amtrak Northeast Corridor rail bridge and add auxiliary lanes in both directions to reduce congestion. The project began in August 2005 and is scheduled for completion in summer 2009.

Motorists are encouraged to drive carefully in order 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.511nj.org.

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/, provides updates on the specific construction work currently taking place on the Route 18 project.