Route 3 eastbound to be closed this weekend
to complete emergency bridge repairs in Rutherford

Full closure necessary to to make
permanent repairs to damaged bridge

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced all lanes on Route 3 eastbound over the Hackensack River between East Rutherford and Secaucus will be closed this weekend to complete emergency bridge repairs. Construction will not affect Route 3 westbound traffic.

Beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, February 14, through 10 p.m. Sunday, February 15, Route 3 eastbound will be closed from the Meadowlands/Route 120 in East Rutherford to Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus to permanently repair the bridge. Emergency vehicles will have access to cross the bridge if necessary during the closure.

Crews will install steel plates to strengthen the lower structural member in three locations. A scheduled inspection of the bridge identified flaws in the lower structural member and further investigation found cracks in the steel requiring the right lane of the bridge to be closed on January 21.

In advance of the closure, crews will begin preparation work during the week to expedite the repair over the weekend. The prep work includes positioning barges in the river with 135-foot lifts, and the installation of a hoist system from the bridge superstructure over the deck to lower the steel plates into place. This preparation work will not affect traffic.

The following signed detours will be in place:

Route 3 eastbound
Traffic heading east on Route 3 will be directed to the exit for Route 120 North/East Rutherford/Arena past the Hilton Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel) to Route 3 West to Route 17 North. Motorists will then be directed to the Polifly Road/I-80 East exit. Traffic will go a few blocks and turn right to access I-80 East. Motorists will continue on I-80 East to I-95 South to Route 46 East to Route 93 South to Route 1&9 South.

Motorists may stay on the I-95/NJ Turnpike South Eastern Spur, which is a toll road, if they choose to.

Motorists also may use an alternate detour utilizing Route 21 to Route 20 to I-80.

NJ Turnpike northbound
Traffic on the NJ Turnpike northbound is advised to use the Eastern Spur of the Turnpike where it divides at the Southern Mixing Bowl at Exit 14. As motorists pass the airport, follow signs for the Lincoln Tunnel/Exits 15E – 15X – 16E – 18E.

NJ Turnpike southbound
Traffic on the NJ Turnpike southbound is advised to use the Eastern Spur of the Turnpike where it divides by following signs for the Lincoln Tunnel/Exit 17.

Seek Alternate Routes
Motorists travelling east heading toward Secaucus and the Lincoln Tunnel are advised to seek alternate routes, such as Route 46 or I-80. However, motorists should be aware that the Route 46 Bridge over the Hackensack River is one lane in each direction because of construction to rehabilitate the bridge, so there may be congestion.

Variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work.

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 real-time travel information.