Route 3 westbound traffic pattern change announced for bridge over Hackensack River

NJDOT’s contractor, Beaver Concrete Construction Co., is scheduled to close the right-most travel lane on the bridge overnight on Friday, May 18 to advance into the last stage of bridge deck reconstruction. Overnight lane closures will be utilized on Route 3 westbound for the installation of the construction barrier and traffic striping necessary to establish the new work zone which will be in place by approximately 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19.

Once the new construction zone is in place, traffic will be maintained using the three left-travel lanes on the previously reconstructed southern portion of the westbound bridge during daytime and peak period hours. The exit ramp to Route 120 northbound on the western side of the bridge will remain open to traffic. NJDOT is rehabilitating the westbound bridge deck in stages to keep three lanes of traffic open and limit the impact to motorists on this heavily traveled highway.

The temporary stop sign remains in place at the ramp from Meadowlands Parkway to Route 3 westbound. Truck traffic is prohibited from using this ramp and is being detoured to Route 3 eastbound to Plaza Center to Paterson Plank Road to Route 3 westbound.

The $17.6 million project is rehabilitating the two individual, structurally deficient bridges carrying Route 3 eastbound and westbound over the Hackensack River. The Route 3 eastbound bridge was built about1934 and modified in 1964. The Route 3 westbound bridge was constructed in 1963. The repairs to the westbound bridge are more extensive than those needed on the eastbound structure. Construction began in February 2011 and is scheduled for completion in late 2012.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.