Route 9 bridge deck over Main Street in Woodbridge
to be replaced

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced construction has begun on the replacement of the Route 9 overpass superstructure over Main Street in Woodbridge, Middlesex County. The $2.7 million federally-funded project will replace the existing, deteriorated structure with a new pre-cast concrete bridge deck.

Initial construction began in late May, with the contractor establishing a staging area and beginning survey work. At this time, temporary single-lane closures will occur on Route 9 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day, and on Main Street daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In mid-June, NJDOT will begin repair work to the existing bridge abutments as well as utility relocations. This work will require overnight single-lane closures on Main Street underneath the bridge.

The new bridge deck will be manufactured off site and installed by the contractor over two weekend periods this fall. One direction of Route 9 will be fully closed to traffic and detoured each weekend for the bridge deck installation. The use of pre-cast concrete bridge components will enable NJDOT to significantly shorten the construction schedule and minimize impacts to traffic on both highways. NJDOT will provide notification to the public in advance of the planned Route 9 closures.

In addition to the replacement of the existing bridge deck, NJDOT will resurface the bridge approaches on Route 9 in both directions. Construction is scheduled for completion in November 2010.

NJDOT will employ variable message signs to notify motorists of the upcoming bridge closure. Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org