I-78 Express lanes to be closed in Union and Hillside
Ongoing project is creating connections between I-78
and Garden State Parkway

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced the upcoming closure of the I-78 Express lanes in each direction in Union Township and Hillside (Union County) and Irvington (Essex County), from milepost 52.8 to milepost 55.

The closures are necessary as part of an ongoing project to create connections between I-78 and the Garden State Parkway at Interchange 142.

Beginning Saturday, July 17, NJDOT will close the I-78 east Express lanes just west of the Garden State Parkway for concrete roadway and pavement reconstruction, as well as drainage improvements. I-78 eastbound Express will be narrowed to one lane and then crossed over to Local lanes in the vicinity of Walker Avenue where eastbound motorists will have only four Local traffic lanes available between Exit 52 and east of Exit 54. I-78 eastbound Express traffic will be returned to the Express lanes at the Local-to-Express temporary crossover in the vicinity of Chancellor Avenue.

Between the crossovers, four Local lanes of traffic will be maintained.

On the weekend of July 23, I-78 westbound Local lanes, at the Express-to-Local crossover located just west of Lyons Avenue, will be reduced to two lanes shifted to the right and the Express lanes will be closed. Both I-78 westbound Express traffic lanes will be directed to the two left Local lanes for a total of four local lanes. The left Local lane will be directed back to the Express lanes at the existing Local-to-Express crossover, located to the west of the Garden State Parkway.

The Express lane closures are anticipated to be in place for approximately 3 months. Advance warning signs and permanent and portable Variable Message Signs will be used to assist motorists to safely navigate these changes.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes and allow for extra travel time.

The $121 million project, which includes the rehabilitation of I-78 local and express lanes in both directions, is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. It will provide congestion relief on local roadways, create more convenient travel patterns and improve safety and traffic flow. NJDOT opened the new flyover ramp from the Garden State Parkway northbound to I-78 westbound last September. That new ramp provides direct access to I-78 westbound from the GSP northbound for the first time. Construction continues on the GSP southbound to I-78 eastbound flyover ramp at this time.

Real-time traffic information and construction activity updates are available online at www.511nj.org or by calling 511.