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

Work on bridge approaches requires detours

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced lane and ramp closures this weekend on Route 18 over 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 alternative routes and modes if possible.

Beginning at 8 p.m. tonight Friday, October 16, until 5 a.m. Monday, October 19, NJDOT’s contractor Anselmi & DeCicco will close two lanes of Route 18 southbound and one lane of Route 18 northbound to demolish and reconstruct the bridge approaches on the right side of Route 18 southbound.

At least two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Route 18 throughout the weekend.

One lane of Route 18 southbound traffic will be diverted onto the Route 18 northbound bridge using a movable barrier system. A single left lane of Route 18 southbound will be maintained on the southbound side of the bridge while construction activities occur on the two closed right lanes.

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

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.

• Motorists traveling from Route 18 northbound to Route 1 southbound will be directed to Route 1 northbound and exit at the Woodbridge Avenue interchange to Route 1 southbound.

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

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 $30 million bridge replacement project is utilizing accelerated bridge construction techniques to minimize impacts 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 NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.