Route 159 traffic shifted over Passaic River
Structurally-deficient westbound bridge that connects
Fairfield and Montville being rebuilt
(Trenton) -
NJDOT today announced that the westbound side of the Route 159 bridge over the Passaic River was closed yesterday with two-way traffic shifted – utilizing a temporary crossover across the existing median - onto the eastbound side. Route 159 has been reduced from two travel lanes in each direction to one travel lane in each direction, which will remain open to traffic at all times during construction.
This shift is necessary to advance a project to replace the Route 159 westbound bridge superstructure over the Passaic River, connecting Fairfield Township in Essex County with Montville Township in Morris County.
NJDOT’s contractor, Colonelli Brothers, Inc., began preliminary construction activity in April, constructing the temporary crossover across the median at the bridge approaches.
The $2.96 million federally-funded project will replace the existing, structurally deficient at-grade bridge superstructure and resurface the bridge approaches. The existing bridge was built in 1939 and carries approximately 12,000 vehicles per day. Route 159 is a 1.36 mile connector highway running between Route 46 and Bloomfield Avenue (CR 506).
Dynamic message signs are in place to notify motorists of all upcoming traffic pattern changes. The project - which was designed in-house by NJDOT engineers – is anticipated to be complete in February 2014.
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.
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