Route 46 Bridge over
Musconetcong River to close this weekend

Reconstruction work expected to
take 10 days in Warren and Morris counties

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the full closure of the Route 46 bridge over the Musconetcong River in Hackettstown, Warren County, and Mt. Olive and Washington, Morris County, is scheduled to take place this weekend and be closed for approximately the next 10 days.

At 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, NJDOT’s contractor, Creamer-Sanzari, Inc., is scheduled to close the bridge to all traffic in both directions. Local traffic will have access to the businesses on either side of the bridge. The bridge is expected to reopen on or about Tuesday, August 26.

Signed detours will be posted for cars and trucks. A truck detour will be implemented around the project limits and will utilize only state and county roads.

Car Detour

• Motorists traveling on Route 46 eastbound will be directed to Route 182 (Mountain Avenue) southbound to East Avenue eastbound to Route 46 

• Motorists traveling on Route 46 westbound will be directed to East Avenue westbound to Route 182 (Mountain Avenue) northbound

Truck Detour

• Tractor trailers traveling on Route 80 eastbound attempting to reach businesses on the east side of the bridge construction zone are to continue on Route 80 to Exit 27 for Route 46 in Netcong and proceed westbound on Route 46 

• Tractor trailers traveling on Route 80 westbound attempting to reach businesses on the west side of the bridge construction zone are  to continue on Route 80 westbound to Exit 19 (CR 517/ Hackettstown/Allamuchy) and continue south on CR 517 into Hackettstown to Route 46 westbound

• Tractor trailers traveling on Route 46 eastbound attempting to reach businesses on the east side of the bridge construction zone should take CR 517 (Mountain Ave.) north to Route 80 east to Exit 27 for Route 46 in Netcong and proceed westbound on Route 46

• Tractor trailers traveling on Route 46 westbound attempting to reach businesses on the west side of the bridge construction zone are to take Route 183 south to Route 80 west to Exit 19/CR 517 south into Hackettstown

Upon reopening the bridge, the normal complement of one travel lane in each direction will be available. However, construction barriers on both sides will reduce the lane width to provide a safe construction area as work continues on the parapets, sidewalk, curbs, and drainage. Overnight lane closures requiring a single lane of alternating traffic with flagmen may be necessary until the completion of the project.

The $3.4 million federally-funded project will provide for partial replacement of the bridge with a new superstructure composed of pre-cast, pre-stressed concrete beams with an integral concrete deck.  The use of prefabricated components will minimize impacts and avoid a prolonged construction period.  

Variable message signs will notify motorists of traffic pattern changes.  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.