Route 18 bridges over Route 1 to be replaced

Northbound roadway to be widened
between the NJ Turnpike and Route 1

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the start of a project to replace and widen the Route 18 bridges over Route 1 in New Brunswick, Middlesex County.

The first phase of the project began last week and is continuing overnight this week with NJDOT’s contractor, Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., setting up a work zone in the Route 1 median under the Route 18 bridge. The work this week from 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning requires the temporary closure of up to two lanes in each direction on Route 1.

Once the work zone is established, the normal complement of travel lanes will be shifted to the right. This configuration is expected to be in place through the fall.

The $28.4 million federally-funded project aims to ease congestion and improve safety on a heavily traveled section of Route 18 just south of Rutgers University between Route 1 and the New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 9, which has traffic volumes of approximately 100,000 vehicles per day.

The Route 18 decks and superstructures over Route 1 will be replaced and the structure will be widened in the northbound direction. The existing Route 18 northbound right shoulder from just north of Westons Mill Pond will be converted to a third travel lane up to the interchange with Route 1.

One of the bridges accommodates three Route 18 southbound travel lanes, while the other bridge accommodates three Route 18 northbound lanes. The Route 18 northbound ramp to Route 1 southbound will be reconstructed and realigned as a part of this project. Retaining walls also will be reconstructed and sidewalks will be built to comply with New Jersey’s Complete Streets Policy and will meet ADA requirements.

Pre-fabricated superstructure units will be used to speed construction. Demolition work and installation of the new superstructure units is planned to occur over a series of weekends later in the project while still maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction on Route 18 to minimize impacts to motorists. The project also involves drainage improvements, and lighting and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) upgrades.  The project is expected to be complete in the Spring of 2016.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of the work and 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.