NJDOT to reconstruct the Route 208 bridge over Lafayette Avenue in Hawthorne

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced the Route 208 bridge over Lafayette Avenue (CR 665) will be reconstructed in Hawthorne Borough, Passaic County.

On Friday night, December 9, NJDOT’s contractor, Ritacco Construction Inc., will begin preliminary construction operations to set up the initial work zone on the bridge. Route 208 carries two travel lanes in each direction over the bridge, along with a deceleration lane for southbound vehicles and an acceleration lane for northbound vehicles. The new work zone will require the closure of those acceleration/deceleration lanes, effectively reducing Route 208 from three lanes to two lanes in both directions over the bridge for the first stage of construction.

The Goffle Road southbound ramp to Route 208 northbound will be closed during this first stage of construction as well. Motorists will be rerouted through the interchange to access Route 208 northbound via the ramp from Goffle Road northbound.

The new construction zone will be in place by Monday, December 12 and is expected to last until spring 2012.

The $3.1 million project will install a new concrete bridge structure over Lafayette Avenue and construct new bridge parapets and sidewalks. The approach slabs on Route 208 in both directions will be replaced and NJDOT will mill and repave the highway on either side of the bridge.

NJDOT has scheduled the construction in stages so that Route 208 will remain open to traffic in both directions at all times during construction. Bridge reconstruction activities will require lane closures and further traffic pattern changes on Route 208, Lafayette Avenue and Goffle Road. Local traffic on Lafayette Avenue will be routed away from the overpass during critical construction activities. Notification will be provided in advance of all further traffic impacts associated with the construction.

The existing, structurally deficient bridge was constructed in 1959 and widened in 1971. Route 208 carries approximately 79,000 vehicles per day at this location. Variable message signs will be installed to inform motorists of pending construction and detours. Local and State police will be utilized as necessary to assist with traffic control. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2012.

NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org