NJDOT takes several steps to make
Labor Day traveling easier and safer for motorists

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today kicked off Labor Day weekend by reiterating the commitment to highway safety and encouraging motorists to exercise caution as they enjoy the holiday weekend.

NJDOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts announced that beginning at 6:00 am on Friday, September 4 all construction work that affects travel lanes on state highways will be suspended through Noon on Tuesday, September 8. Lane closures will be permitted for emergency reasons only.

“NJDOT is promoting safety by suspending construction on state highways and urging drivers to obey the speed limit,” Commissioner Dilts said. “In addition, I encourage motorists to take advantage of our improved 511 telephone service regarding traffic updates, weather and construction conditions and to also check out our new real-time traffic website.”

In addition to suspending construction work, NJDOT also announced the following statewide highway safety initiatives:

• NJDOT’s real time traffic Web site, www.511nj.org, offers interactive maps and displays traffic incidents. The Google Maps-based Web site offers real time traffic conditions on State highways, interstate highways, the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway. The Web site highlights incidents, delays, construction, weather related closures and special events.

• MyNJ511 is a free service that notifies subscribers of accidents, incidents or construction on the state highway or toll road of their choice. Alerts and updates are sent to subscribers’ cell phones, personal digital assistants or e-mail addresses. Motorists should visit www.511nj.org to sign up for this service.

• The state-of-the-art Statewide Traffic Management Center enables the NJDOT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey State Police to improve their management of and response to accidents, adverse weather, special events and congestion. The 26,000 square foot facility operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

• NJDOT’s 511 interactive telephone line provides personalized real time traffic information.

• NJDOT will extend the hours of operation of the Statewide Emergency Service Patrols (ESP) over the holiday weekend. ESP helps stranded drivers with extra gas, tire changes and other services.

• New Jersey State Police and local police departments will increase their patrols during the holiday weekend. They will be looking for drivers who are aggressive, drowsy or intoxicated.
  
• Drivers are encouraged to call the following numbers for roadside assistance or to report a disabled vehicle, roadside debris or other problems;
  - On the Turnpike, call #95.
  - On the Parkway, call #GSP (#477).
  - On the Atlantic City Expressway, call #ACE (#223).
  - Motorists should continue to dial 911 for emergencies.

Calls are toll and airtime free with most major New Jersey cellular suppliers. Any motorist with a cellular phone can expedite aid to disabled vehicles by simply dialing this number. Callers should note the nearest mile marker, the direction of travel and a description of the vehicle.

Express E-ZPass is now available at eight toll plazas along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, including the Bergen Toll Plaza. Express E-ZPass allows E-ZPass customers to travel through toll areas at normal driving speeds, due to the removal of certain toll barriers and the addition of E-ZPass sensors on an overhead gantry. At each location, traditional E-ZPass and cash lanes are also available.

Friday is expected to be the most heavily traveled day, with the highest volume between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. On the New Jersey Turnpike, the heaviest traffic will be on Interchanges 1-4, 11, 14, 18W and just south of 8A at the merge. On the Parkway, the heaviest traffic will be from the Union Toll Plaza through the Toms River Toll Plaza.

NJDOT urges motorists to exercise caution while driving this last weekend of summer. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of three and 33 in the United States.