NJDOT announces upcoming closure of
Route 46 bridge in Dover
Department will hold Public Information Center
to discuss traffic management plan

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced plans to close the Route 46 bridge over the NJ TRANSIT rail line and the Rockaway River in the Town of Dover, Morris County on or around July 9th to accommodate construction activity related to the replacement of the bridge.

The Department has determined that a full closure of the bridge is necessary to ensure the safety of the motoring public as major construction activity resumes on a new bridge being built alongside the existing structure.

A 10-ton weight restriction has been in effect on the bridge since late-April.

In order to keep residents and commuters informed of the upcoming closure and the resulting traffic pattern changes, NJDOT is holding a Public Information Center on Thursday, June 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Dover Public High School on Grace Street.

NJDOT will employ variable message signs on Route 46 and I-80 in both directions to alert motorists of the closure and the accompanying detours.

Regional detours for all thru-traffic not headed into Dover:

• Route 46 eastbound will take Commerce Boulevard in Roxbury Township to Howard Boulevard (CR 615) north to (Interchange 30) I-80 eastbound to Route 46 at Interchange 38.
• Route 46 westbound will take I-80 westbound at Interchange 38 in Denville Township to Howard Boulevard (Interchange 30) to Commerce Boulevard to Route 46.

Local detours for all traffic headed to/from Dover:

• Route 46 eastbound will take West Blackwell Street to Dover-Rockaway Road to Route 46.

• Route 46 westbound will take Dover-Rockaway Road to East Blackwell Street to Route 46.

Local truck detours:

• Route 46 eastbound truck traffic will take West Blackwell Street to Dover-Rockaway Road to Route 46.

• Route 46 westbound truck traffic will take Route 15 northbound to Mount Pleasant Avenue to Mount Hope Avenue (CR 661) to I-80 westbound at Interchange 35.

• Route 15 southbound truck traffic will take Mount Pleasant Avenue to Mount Hope Avenue (CR 661) to Route 46.

NJDOT has worked with local officials and stakeholders on the traffic management plans for the bridge closure and all issues related to the project. NJDOT anticipates partially opening the new span to traffic by the end of the year.

The 80 year-old bridge carries approximately 18,000 vehicles each day.

The bridge replacement work is part of an approximately $50 million project that began in July 2008 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. NJDOT is also replacing the existing Route 46 bridge over the Morristown & Erie rail line as part of the project and will also widen and realign a 0.6 mile segment of Route 46 from Pequannock Street to Princeton Avenue. A new direct connection between Route 46 and Route 15 via a new at-grade signalized intersection is also being constructed.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org or call 511 for real-time travel information.