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

This is the tenth 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 as the replacement of the Route 18 Bridge over Route 1 in New Brunswick, Middlesex County advances.  

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, August 14 until 6 a.m. Monday, August 17. 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, from 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday and from 11 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. One lane will be maintained at all times.  

Route 18 closures
In addition to the closures on Route 1, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, August 14, until 5 a.m. Monday, August 17, NJDOT’s contractor Anselmi & DeCicco will close two lanes of Route 18 southbound and one lane of Route 18 northbound to initiate a temporary traffic pattern.
Route 18 northbound will maintain two lanes, and one Route 18 northbound lane will be switched to carry traffic in the southbound direction. 

At least 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 southbound traffic will be split before Paulus Boulevard into two lanes. All traffic for the NJ Turnpike needs to stay in the left lane.

Overnight from 11:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. a single lane of Route 18 southbound will be open.

Throughout the next few 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 18 southbound to Route 1 northbound Detour:
The Route 18 southbound ramp to Route 1 northbound will be closed from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday.

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

Route 1 southbound to Route 18 southbound Detour:
The ramp from Route 1 southbound to Route 18 southbound and Route 18 southbound 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 Route 1 southbound and exit at the Ryders Lane interchange to Route 1 northbound to Route 18 southbound. 

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.