Traffic shifts announced along Interstate 80 eastbound

Ramp from I-287 northbound to
I-80 eastbound to be closed this weekend

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced lane shifts and ramp closures this weekend as the next stage of construction begins for the Interstate 80 roadway rehabilitation project in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County.

Beginning on Friday night, March 21, NJDOT's contractor, Union Paving & Construction Co., plans to close the right lane of I-80 eastbound Express lanes and the left lane of I-80 eastbound Local lanes from just west of Interstate 287 (milepost 43.5) to east of Beverwyck Road (milepost 45.7).

The I-80 eastbound Express lane crossover to the I-80 eastbound local lanes that is just east of the I-287 interchange will be closed at 10 p.m. Friday, March 21 until about 6 a.m. Monday, March 24 requiring a detour for local exits.

• Motorists wishing to use Exit 45 to South Beverwyck Road will be directed to Exit 47B/Route 46 eastbound to New Road, where they may turn around and take Route 46 westbound to South Beverwyck Road.

The ramp from I-287 northbound (Exit 41A) to I-80 eastbound/Smith Road also will be closed at 10 p.m. Friday March 21, until 6 a.m. Saturday, March 22. The following detours will be in place:

I-287 northbound traffic to I-80 eastbound

• I-287 northbound traffic will be directed to use Exit 41B for I-80 westbound, to Exit 42A Route 202/Route 80 eastbound

I-287 northbound traffic to Smith Road

• I-287 northbound traffic will be directed to use Exit 41B for I-80 westbound, to Exit 42B Cherry Hill Road to Route 46 eastbound to Smith Road

In order to accommodate this new traffic pattern on I-80, the contractor will reconfigure the Express highway to carry three travel lanes and the Local highway to carry two travel lanes by utilizing the outside shoulder as a travel lane. Single lane reductions will be necessary in both the Express and Local lanes throughout the weekend to implement the traffic shift.

Once the new pattern is established the contractor will begin the reconstruction of the inside shoulder and left lane of the Local highway. This stage of construction is anticipated to be complete this summer.

The $73 million project, which began construction in August 2012, is completely rebuilding all lanes of Interstate 80 between the Route 202/Littleton Road interchange (milepost 41.5) and the Beverwyck Road interchange (milepost 45.6), a very busy stretch of highway with an average of 159,000 vehicles traveling it daily. The highway - which has deteriorated over time and is in need of a complete rehabilitation - is being reconstructed in stages to minimize impacts to motorists. All I-80 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 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.