I-80 eastbound bridge over Route 46 complete in Morris County

Lane closure overnight to shift traffic back onto new bridge

(Trenton) -New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the completion of the I-80 eastbound Bridge over Route 46/Ledgewood Avenue. A temporary overnight lane closure is necessary tonight to shift traffic back onto the new bridge as the I-80 Bridges over Route 46 replacement project advances in Roxbury, Morris County.

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight, Thursday, August 30 until 6 a.m. tomorrow, NJDOT’s contractor, Ferreira Construction Co. Inc., is scheduled to move construction barriers and restripe the roadway to remove a long-term traffic shift on I-80 eastbound. The current crossover of the left lane on I-80 eastbound will be shifted back onto the newly completed I-80 eastbound bridge above Route 46 in Roxbury. The speed limit will remain 50 mph in the construction zone.

The I-80 eastbound bridge work is complete, and preparation work for the next stage in construction will begin. The next stage will require a traffic shift in the near future to cross over the existing middle and right lanes of I-80 westbound onto the temporary bridge constructed in the median between I-80 eastbound and westbound. Three travel lanes will be maintained at all times during construction to minimize impacts to motorists.

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 our Facebook page.