Route 18 and Route 1 lane
and ramp closures scheduled for this
weekend as bridge work continues

This is the sixth weekend requiring closures and detours

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials are reminding motorists of lane and ramp closures this weekend on Route 18 and Route 1 to demolish and reconstruct the Route 18 Bridge over Route 1 in New Brunswick, Middlesex County.  

Motorists are advised to expect delays and should plan alternate routes or modes if possible.

Route 1 closures
Route 1 northbound will have a single left lane closed beginning at 10 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday. The center lane and auxiliary lane of Route 1 northbound also will be closed from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, and from 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday. One lane will be maintained at all times.  

Route 18 closures
In addition to the closure on Route 1, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, July 17, until 5 a.m. Monday, July 20, NJDOT’s contractor Anselmi & DeCicco will close one lane of Route 18 southbound and two lanes of Route 18 northbound to initiate a temporary traffic pattern.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Route 18 throughout the weekend except during periods of brief stoppages (approximately 15 minutes) during demolition and erection of the bridge and during nighttime hours (see below for details).

Route 18 northbound traffic will be split: one lane will remain on the northbound side and one lane will use the southbound side via a temporary crossover. During nighttime hours, one lane of traffic shall be maintained for Route 18 northbound and two lanes for Route 18 southbound.

Throughout the next two months, there will be additional lane and ramp closures, as well as traffic patterns shifts, at the Route 18 and Route 1 interchange. NJDOT will announce any closures before they are implemented.

The scheduled closures and detours for this weekend are as follows:

Route 1 southbound to Route 18 southbound Detour:
The ramp from Route 1 southbound to Route 18 southbound and Route 18 northbound left and center lanes will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

• Motorists traveling on Route 1 southbound to Route 18 southbound will be directed to continue south and exit at the Ryders Lane interchange to Route 1 northbound to Route 18 southbound. 

Route 1 northbound to Route 18 northbound Detour:
The ramp from Route 1 northbound to Route 18 northbound will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. The Route 18 northbound right lane will be closed from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday and 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.

• Motorists traveling from Route 1 northbound to Route 18 northbound will be detoured to the Woodbridge Avenue interchange to Route 1 southbound to Route 18 northbound.

Route 18 northbound to Route 1 southbound Detour:
The Route 18 northbound ramp to Route 1 southbound will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.

• Motorists traveling from Route 18 northbound to Route 1 southbound will be detoured to Route 1 northbound to the Woodbridge Avenue interchange to Route 1 Southbound.

The $30 million bridge replacement project is utilizing accelerated bridge construction techniques to minimize impact to motorists. This involves the use of rapidly deployed moveable construction barrier curb and prefabricated bridge deck. The project is expected to be completed by June 2016.

Portable and overhead 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 www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.