Route 1 reopened in Edison almost 24-hours
ahead of schedule
Replacement of freight rail grade-crossing that required highway closure finished Sunday morning, originally expected to remain closed until Monday morning
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials announced today that all Route 1 travel lanes in Edison were restored by approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, August 18 – almost a full day earlier than the originally scheduled reopening time.
The entire highway, from Forest Haven Boulevard to Prince Street (a distance of 0.4 miles), was closed to traffic at 9:00 p.m. Friday August 16 to accommodate work to replace a freight rail grade-crossing. NJDOT anticipated the construction work lasting all weekend, with Route 1 originally expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, August 19.
The project - which included removing and replacing the track bed and rails - was performed by a contractor hired by Conrail/Norfolk Southern, which owns the railroad. Pre-cast concrete boxes with slots for the rails have been placed side-by-side across Route 1 to form the new grade-crossing that should accommodate trains and cars in a safe manner for 25 years. Approximately ten trains use the grade-crossing each week.
DOT officials carefully reviewed the project before concluding there is no feasible way to perform the work in a manner that maintains even limited opportunities for motorists to travel through the construction zone.
NJDOT formulated numerous detours for northbound and southbound motorists depending on their destination. Access to all businesses and other destinations on either side of the construction zone was maintained, but delays around the area were inevitable.
Two weeks prior to the closure, an NJDOT community relations reached out to local businesses to make sure they are aware of the project and hand-delivered copies of maps that show the detours that their customers can use to reach them.
Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
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