NJDOT to rehabilitate Route 159 bridge
over Route 46 in Montville and Fairfield

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Stephen Dilts today announced the start of construction on a project to replace the Route 159 westbound (Bloomfield Avenue) bridge deck over Route 46 in Montville, Morris County and Fairfield, Essex County. NJDOT will also upgrade the bridge approaches on Route 159 westbound. The $2 million project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Replacing this Route 159 bridge deck reflects the State of New Jersey’s commitment to improving our infrastructure and stimulating the economy,” said Governor Jon S. Crozine “NJDOT’s work will create and support jobs while improving motorist safety.”

On Friday night, July 31, NJDOT will begin to resurface Route 46 westbound, which will require single lane closures from 8:30 p.m. through 8 a.m. the following morning. Route 46 westbound will remain open to two lanes of traffic for the duration of the project.

Simultaneously, NJDOT will close Route 159 westbound over Route 46 eastbound to traffic for the duration of the project. Route 159 will reopen by December 2009.

The following detour routes will take effect July 31:

Route 159 westbound traffic bound for Route 46 westbound will be detoured to Route 46 eastbound to the Gately Overpass to Route 46 westbound.

Route 46 eastbound traffic bound to make a U-turn at Route 159 will continue on Route 46 eastbound to the Gately Overpass to Route 46 westbound.

NJDOT will enact temporary overnight lane closures on Route 46 eastbound on Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day, Friday from 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day, Saturday from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day and Sundays from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday morning. Construction is scheduled for completion in February 2010.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of the upcoming roadway closure. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.

ARRA will stimulate New Jersey's economy by creating or supporting thousands of transportation-related jobs and making long-term improvements to roads, bridges and the transit system. New Jersey's transportation allocation includes $652 million for highways and bridges and approximately $425 million for transit. That total includes approximately $164 million for county and local transportation priorities and approximately $19.5 million for transportation enhancement projects.