I-80 eastbound traffic shift required for bridges replacement project in Morris County

Lane closure tonight to set up long-term traffic shift

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 11 until 7 a.m. the next day, NJDOT’s contractor Ferreira Construction Co. Inc., is scheduled to install construction barriers and restripe to establish a long-term traffic shift on I-80 eastbound. The speed limit will be reduced to 50 mph in the construction zone located above Route 46 in Roxbury.

The traffic shift will move the existing left lane on I-80 eastbound onto a crossover lane on the I-80 westbound left shoulder, which is separated from westbound traffic by construction barriers. The existing middle and right lanes on I-80 eastbound also will be shifted left onto a temporary bridge constructed in the median between I-80 eastbound and westbound.

I-80 eastbound traffic will maintain three travel lanes at all times during construction to minimize impacts to motorists. In the fall of 2017, traffic shifts utilizing the right shoulder as a through lane in each direction was established, first on I-80 westbound and then on I-80 eastbound to facilitate construction of the temporary bridge.

The $15.1 million federally-funded project will advance in stages, first replacing the I-80 eastbound bridge, followed by the I-80 westbound bridge. Each two-span concrete bridge will be replaced by single-span steel girder structure with concrete bridge decks. The vertical clearance will be raised to 14 feet-9 inches to improve safety for tall vehicles on Route 46, and existing guiderail will be upgraded to current standards. In addition, the bridge piers currently located underneath each bridge will be demolished.

In order to minimize impacts to motorists, a temporary I-80 bridge with two travel lanes was constructed in the median area, and a third lane will be provided on each new bridge, to maintain three travel lanes in each direction as construction progresses. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2020.

Variable message signs and lane closure signs will be utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with the bridge replacement project. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information before upcoming road closures.

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 and on the NJDOT Facebook page.