Route 3 over Passaic River Bridge traffic to shift
to final configuration this week in Bergen County

Ridge Road overpass repairs continue this fall

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the shifting of Route 3 traffic in both directions into the final configuration over the newly constructed Passaic River Bridge as the project nears completion.

On Thursday, August 14, from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Friday, August 15, NJDOT’s contractor, Creamer-Sanzari JV, is expected to close two lanes in the westbound direction and the ramp from Route 3 westbound to Route 21 to restripe the roadway in preparation for opening traffic on the newly built center bridge span that will carry three lanes of express traffic in each direction. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained while the work is being done overnight.

Motorists traveling on Route 3 westbound that wish to access Route 21 will be directed to the next exit to Main Avenue southbound to Route 3 eastbound to either Route 21 southbound or northbound.

On Friday, August 15, from 11 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, two eastbound lanes and the ramp from Route 3 eastbound to Route 21 are expected to be closed to restripe the roadway in preparation for opening traffic on the newly built center bridge span. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained while the work is being done overnight.

Motorists traveling on Route 3 eastbound that wish to access Route 21 will be directed over the bridge and take the first exit for Rutherford Avenue. Make a left at the first light onto Park Avenue, cross over Route 3 and turn left at the first light onto Marginal Road. Stay in the left lane to get onto Route 3 westbound. Cross the bridge and take the first exit for Route 21 southbound or northbound.

The work is part of the $162 million, federally-funded Route 3 Passaic River bridge replacement project that began in July 2010 in which NJDOT replaced the structurally deficient moveable bridge with a new fixed span over the Passaic River, connecting Clifton City in Passaic County with Rutherford and Lyndhurst in Bergen County.

The final road configuration has three bridge spans: The center span has three express lanes in each direction; the northern span carries three westbound local lanes, including one of which becomes a ramp to access Route 21 in both directions; and the southern span carries three eastbound local lanes, including one that is an off ramp to Park Avenue in Rutherford and Lyndhurst.

As part of the project, repairs to the Ridge Road Bridge over Route 3 in Rutherford, Bergen County, will be completed this fall. The repairs are necessary following a traffic incident in March that damaged the overpass, which is located three-quarters of a mile east of Route 21 and the Passaic River Bridge.

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 for construction updates and real-time travel information.