I-287 traffic pattern changes coming in Piscataway

NJDOT to reconstruct bridge decks over Possumtown Road

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that a new traffic pattern will be implemented on Interstate 287 southbound over Possumtown Road in Piscataway Township.

On Wednesday night, March 24, NJDOT will begin temporary overnight lane closures on I-287 in both directions in order to shift traffic and establish a new construction zone in the vicinity of milepost 8.5 in Piscataway.

• NJDOT will create a contra-flow lane which will divert the left-most I-287 southbound lane across the median on to the left lane of the northbound bridge over Possumtown Road. After crossing the bridge, this lane will shift back across the median to rejoin mainline I-287 southbound.
• The right and center southbound lanes will utilize the inner lanes of the southbound structure while the outer lane and shoulder are under construction.
• NJDOT will maintain three lanes of traffic on I-287 in each direction during the bridge deck reconstruction.

The new traffic pattern will be established by Monday morning, March 28. Reconstruction of the I-287 southbound bridge deck over Possumtown Road will begin at this time.

Once NJDOT completes the outer half of the new structure, the right and center southbound lanes will be shifted to the new lanes and work will begin on the inner half of the structure. Reconstruction of the northbound bridge deck over Possumtown Road will follow, with construction of the entire project expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2011.

The traffic shifts are associated with an ongoing $29 million roadway rehabilitation project that will provide a safer, smoother ride on I-287 in Middlesex and southern Somerset counties.

The federally-funded roadway reconstruction began in September, 2009 and is providing motorist safety improvements over approximately seven miles of I-287 between Stelton Road in Piscataway, Middlesex County and Main Street in Franklin Township, Somerset County. This work will extend the lifespan of the roadway by more than 15 years and the new bridge decks by 50 years.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website, www.511nj.org for traffic updates.