Tonnele Circle and Pulaski Skyway partial closures this weekend

Motorists encouraged to avoid the Circle and use the New Jersey Turnpike

To avoid delays, NJDOT is encouraging motorists to avoid the Tonnele Circle. Traffic coming from Jersey City/Hoboken are encouraged to use the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations west and south, including I-78, or to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 Truck southbound.

Traffic on Route 1&9 south heading toward Tonnele Circle is encouraged to stay right and use the ramp to Route 1&9 Truck.

Tonnele Circle Closure
Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 19 until 9 p.m. Sunday, May 21, NJDOT’s contractor, CCA Civil Inc.-Daidone Joint Venture, is scheduled to close the east side of Tonnele Circle where Route 1&9 north/Tonnele Avenue enters the Circle to the ramp where traffic from Route 139 westbound enters the Circle. In addition, several ramps into and through the Circle will be closed to allow installation of deck panels on the portion of the Skyway that goes over the Circle.

The following detours will be in place:

From Route 7 east to Route 139 east:

• The two ramps from Route 7 eastbound that go through the Circle to Route 139 eastbound will be closed with traffic directed to the right and into the Circle. Traffic should follow signs directing motorists to Route 139 eastbound upper level.

From Route 1&9 south to Route 139 east:

• The ramp from Route 1&9 southbound to Route 139 eastbound also will be closed. Traffic will be directed into the Circle and should follow signs directing motorists to Route 139 eastbound upper level.

From Route 7 east to Route 1&9 north:

• Traffic coming from Route 7 eastbound wishing to take Route 1&9 northbound will be directed into the Circle and to Route 1&9 southbound/Tonnele Avenue. From there traffic will turn left at St. Paul’s Avenue and left onto JFK Boulevard. Turn left onto the ramp into Tonnele Circle and right onto Route 1&9 north.

Pulaski Skyway Closure
Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 19 until 9 p.m. Sunday, May 21, NJDOT’s contractor, CCA Civil Inc.-Daidone Joint Venture, is scheduled to close the Pulaski Skyway southbound and divert all traffic into Tonnele Circle. Traffic may access the Skyway from Tonnele Circle.

The ramp from the Route 139 westbound to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 Truck southbound will be closed. Route 139 Lower Level westbound approaching the Skyway also will be closed from 11:59 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 19 to Sunday morning. Route 139 Lower Level eastbound will be closed from 11:59 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 19 until 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20.

This is the third in a series of six scheduled closures this spring to remove and replace deck panels in the southbound lanes at the east end of the Skyway near the Tonnele Circle. Heavy congestion and delays are expected in Tonnele Circle. The work is being coordinated with the Pulaski Skyway Contract 2 project that is rehabilitating Route 139 upper and lower levels and there will be a joint closure this weekend.

The following detours will be in place:

Pulaski Skyway Southbound Traffic (toward Newark) Detour:

Leaving the Holland Tunnel, motorists will have the following options:

• Stay to the far right and take the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations west and south, including I-78 – This is the recommended option

• Stay to the left and follow signs for Route 139 West, traffic will be directed to Tonnele Circle, where traffic for Pulaski Skyway will continue across the Circle to the ramp back up to the Skyway. Traffic for Route 1&9 Truck southbound towards Newark, Route 7 and I-280 will follow a detour using Route 1&9 north to County Road to U-turn back to Route 1&9 south. This will lead to the Route 1&9 Truck south ramp prior to the Circle.

Local Traffic for Jersey City:

• Stay to the middle to take Route 139 Upper Roadway and follow signs to Kennedy Boulevard/Jersey City, to best access many local Jersey City locations and other points north (Secaucus).

Northbound Traffic (toward Jersey City):

Northbound traffic will continue to utilize the same Skyway alternate routes that have been in effect since the northbound lanes were closed last year:

• NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension – This is the recommended option

• Route 1&9 Truck northbound

• Communipaw Avenue to access local Jersey City Locations.

NJDOT created a project-specific website - www.pulaskiskyway.com - which contains a wealth of information about the Skyway and the project, and will be updated with relevant new information as work progresses. The Department is carefully coordinating the Pulaski Skyway project with other regional transportation infrastructure projects to minimize traffic congestion.

The Department has a project hotline telephone number, 973-776-7400, and email, Pulaski.Skyway@dot.nj.gov. Anyone who has questions, concerns, or suggestions is encouraged to contact the Project Outreach Team as work progresses.

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs to provide advance notification to motorists of traffic pattern changes associated with the work. Follow us on Twitter @Skywayrehab and visit www.511nj.org for travel advisories.