Major Interstate 78 rehabilitation project
to resume construction with westbound lane closure planned for this weekend
NJDOT had restored all travel lanes through the winter season
to maximize capacity

In December 2012, NJDOT restored all available Interstate 78 travel lanes in the project limits to provide maximum capacity through the winter season when major pavement construction is limited. As spring approaches and the asphalt plants reopen, work on the $72 million roadway rehabilitation project is set to gear back up.

Over the weekend, NJDOT's contractor, a joint-venture of Ferreira Construction and Crisdel Group, will resume long-term lane closures to allow for the completion of the full depth pavement replacement. The contractor will reduce I-78 westbound from five travel lanes to four – two Express lanes and two Local lanes - and begin reconstruction of the far right Local travel-lane and shoulder.

All existing travel lanes will be maintained on I-78 eastbound for now, as work continues to reconstruct the eastbound shoulder between mileposts 55.9 to 56.9. Long term single-lane closures will resume on the eastbound highway in the coming weeks.

Construction began in March 2012 on the major roadway rehabilitation with the highway being reconstructed in stages, requiring numerous traffic pattern changes and the closure of one travel lane in each direction at certain locations. 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.

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. The project is scheduled to be completed in early 2014.

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.