NJDOT to suspend construction
for upcoming holiday weekends

(Trenton) — Commissioner Stephen Dilts today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will suspend all construction that impacts traffic in order to reduce congestion during the holiday season.

NJDOT at 6 a.m. on Thursday, December 24, will suspend all construction work that affects travel lanes on state highways. NJDOT will resume its construction schedule at noon on Monday, December 28.

NJDOT will then suspend construction work that affects travel lanes on state highways the following week from 6 a.m. on Thursday, December 31 to noon on Monday, January 4, 2009. NJDOT will permit lane closures for emergency purposes only.

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

• NJDOT will extend the hours of operation of the Statewide Emergency Service Patrols (ESP) over the holiday weekend. ESP provides stranded drivers extra fuel, tire changes and other services.
• The state-of-the-art Statewide Traffic Management Center enables NJDOT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the New Jersey State Police to manage and respond to accidents, adverse weather, special events and congestion. The facility operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
• NJDOT’s real time traffic Web site, www.511nj.org, offers interactive maps and displays traffic incidents. The Google Maps-based Web site offers motorists real time traffic conditions on State highways, interstate highways, the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. The Web site highlights incidents, construction, weather and special events.
• NJDOT’s 511 interactive telephone line provides motorists personalized real-time traffic information. Motorists may also subscribe to MyNJ511, a nPersonalized Traveler Service that sends free, real-time traffic alerts to motorists’ cell phones, email addresses and Personal Digital Assistants.
• 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).
  - To report aggressive driving on any road, call #77.