NJDOT to replace Route 159 westbound bridge
over the Passaic River
Upgrade planned for structurally-deficient bridge that
connects Fairfield and Montville
(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced a project to replace the Route 159 westbound bridge superstructure over the Passaic River, connecting Fairfield Township in Essex County with Montville Township in Morris County.
The $2.96 million federally-funded project will replace the existing, structurally deficient at-grade bridge superstructure and resurface the bridge approaches. The existing bridge was built in 1939 and carries approximately 12,000 vehicles per day. Route 159 is a 1.36 mile connector highway running between Route 46 and Bloomfield Avenue (CR 506).
NJDOT’s contractor, Colonelli Brothers, Inc., is scheduled to begin preliminary construction activity this week including sign installation and site mobilization. The initial stage of construction will construct a new temporary crossover across the median at the bridge approaches.
The bridge superstructure replacement work is expected to begin later this spring. To accommodate that work when it begins, NJDOT will close the westbound side of the bridge with two-way traffic shifted – utilizing a temporary crossover across the existing median - onto the eastbound side. Route 159 will be reduced from two travel lanes in each direction to one travel lane in each direction, which will remain open to traffic at all times. Public notification will be provided in advance of this crossover. Dynamic message signs will notify motorists of all upcoming traffic pattern changes.
The project - which was designed in-house by NJDOT engineers – is anticipated to be complete in February 2014.
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 real-time travel information.
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