Route 206 reopened ahead of schedule
for Drakes Brook Bridge
work completed early in Morris County
Detours and temporary traffic signals removed
(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced Route 206 reopened early and the detours have been removed as the replacement of the Bridge over Drakes Brook advances in Mount Olive, Morris County.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Sunday, July 15, NJDOT's contractor, Konkus Corp., reopened Route 206 in both directions between Four Bridges Road/Hillside Road and Bartley-Chester Road/Hillery Drive. The road closure which began on Friday, July 6 at 8 p.m. required separate car and truck detours for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and was scheduled to be in place for 10 days. Remaining work will continue off the roadway, eliminating the need for the full road closure and detours.
Separate car and truck detours have been removed, as well as the temporary traffic signals at the following intersections:
- Bartley Chester Road/CR 625, Bartley Road and Bartley Flanders Road/CR 612
- Bartley Chester Road/CR 625 and South Four Bridges Road
The $2.8 million dollar federally-funded project replaced the deck and approaches to the bridge, as well as made substantial repairs to the superstructure. State inspection determined that the bridge deck was in poor condition and required replacement. NJDOT used Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques to reduce the time it took to replace the bridge. The project was designed in three stages to minimize effects to traffic. The project is in its final stage and the only one that required a full road closure.
The road closures and detours were planned to coincide with the end of the West Morris Central High School semester and the beginning of the high school summer sports program. The closure did not interfere with the July 4th holiday. The project is expected to be completed in early August.
Variable message signs were 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 construction updates and real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info or on the NJDOT Facebook page. |
