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P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ
Contact: Steve Schapiro
Daniel Triana
609-530-4280
RELEASE: September 27, 2017
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Route 7 eastbound U-turn and lane closures required for Wittpenn Bridge Project
Permanent U-Turn closure and weekend traffic shift necessary
(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a permanent closure of the Route 7 eastbound U-turn to Route 7 westbound, and a temporary weekend lane closure of Route 7 eastbound in South Kearny, as the Route 7/Wittpenn Bridge replacement project advances in Hudson County.
Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, September 29, NJDOT’s contractor, George Harms Construction, Co., is scheduled to permanently close the Route 7 eastbound U-turn to Route 7 westbound located a few hundred feet before the Fish House Road exit, as part of a new traffic realignment for the bridge project. To complete a U-turn, Route 7 eastbound motorists will continue to the Newark Avenue exit underneath the Pulaski Skyway, turn left onto Wallis Avenue, and follow to Route 7 westbound.
In addition, beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, September 29, until 9:00 a.m. Saturday, September 30, NJDOT’s contractor will close the left lane of Route 7 eastbound to restripe and install construction barriers just west of the Wittpenn Bridge. The weekend traffic shift work will narrow Route 7 eastbound and move the traffic to the right side of the roadway allowing for the removal of an existing median barrier separating Route 7 westbound from Route 7 eastbound.
The median barrier removal work is a continuation of the similar Route 7 westbound traffic shift implemented last week. Motorists are advised to expect delays and plan accordingly.
In November 2011, NJDOT began construction on the first contract of the $480 million project, to completely replace the existing structurally deficient Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge over the Hackensack River with a new, wider vertical lift bridge. Construction of the new bridge is being accomplished in five separate contracts.
The first two contracts that built the river piers, fender system and the east approach spans for the new vertical lift bridge have been completed. The third and fourth contracts of construction that will build the west approach spans, the Fish House Road Pump Station, advance utilities, embankment and the new vertical lift bridge span & towers are currently under construction. The new bridge is expected to be open to traffic in 2019.
Portable variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weatheror 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.
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