Route 31 traffic shift announced in Hampton
NJDOT to begin 2nd stage of reconstruction of bridge
over inactive rail line
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced an upcoming traffic shift on Route 31 in Hampton Borough (Hunterdon County) as reconstruction advances on a bridge that carries Route 31 traffic over an inactive NJ TRANSIT railroad track.
On Friday evening, March 1, NJDOT’s contractor, Konkus Corporation, is scheduled to shift both lanes of Route 31 traffic onto the newly reconstructed northbound side of the bridge and begin reconstruction of the southbound half of the structure.
NJDOT has scheduled the bridge work in stages so that one travel lane on Route 31 in both directions will remain open to traffic during peak periods. Periodic single-lane closures will be necessary on the bridge with alternating traffic patterns in place during overnight and off-peak hours.
Construction began on the $7.8 million federally-funded project in February, 2012, with the contractor restriping and installing new signage at the Route 31 intersection with Main Street, to the south of the bridge in Glen Gardner Borough.
Project completion is expected fall 2013.
NJDOT is building a new single span structure, which will be wider than the existing bridge to accommodate a lengthened northbound climbing lane, providing two northbound lanes on the bridge, and full-width shoulders. The bridge that is being replaced carried two lanes southbound and only one lane northbound over the rail line, with substandard shoulders. A new six foot wide sidewalk will be built on the southbound side of the bridge.
The final stage of construction will repave Route 31 between the Main Street intersection to the south of the bridge and Lackawanna Street to the north. Dynamic message signs will notify motorists of upcoming traffic pattern changes.
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 for real-time travel information.
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