Interstate 78 travel lanes restored for winter

Over the weekend, NJDOT's contractor, a joint-venture of Ferreira Construction and Crisdel Group, removed construction barriers and restriped the highway within the construction limits of the Department’s ongoing $72 million project. In addition, the contractor reopened the Exit 56 ramp connections at Elizabeth Avenue in Newark City.

Over the winter, the contractor will continue to have shoulder closings and off hour temporary single lane closures to perform sign and electrical work. Starting next March, the contractor will resume long term lane closures on the local lanes to allow for the completion of the full depth pavement replacement. This will be followed by final asphalt resurfacing of the entire project including bridge decks.

This is one of the busiest stretches of highway in New Jersey with an average of 145,000 vehicles traveling it daily. The new pavement is designed to last up to 20 years and the project is scheduled to be completed in early 2014.

The highway is being reconstructed in stages to minimize impacts to motorists. During the construction A total of four of the five I-78 travel lanes will remain open in each direction during peak period hours throughout construction. Single and double-lane closures will be allowed during overnight and off-peak hours.

Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) are being utilized on Route 78 as well as the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, to provide real-time work zone traffic information to motorists.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.