Route 46 traffic to be shifted as Passaic Ave. to Willowbrook Mall project begins in Essex and Passaic Counties

Route 46 to be widened and eastbound bridge over Passaic River to be replaced

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the start of the Route 46 at Passaic Avenue to Willowbrook Mall infrastructure enhancement and congestion relief project between Fairfield, Essex County and Wayne, Passaic County.

Beginning at 8 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 22, until 7 a.m., the next day, NJDOT’s contractor, Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., is scheduled to close the left lane on Route 46 eastbound and shift traffic to the right lane and shoulder to create a center median work area.

The center median work zone will allow for drainage, multiple utility and bridgework to be accomplished. Utility work will continue Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., for several weeks.

The $40 million federally-funded Route 46 Bridge over the Passaic River to Willowbrook Mall project will replace the existing eastbound bridge and widen Route 46 in both directions. The project will be completed in three stages with some construction activities being performed at night to reduce the impact to the public.

The bridge is approximately 294-feet long and was constructed in 1927. The new bridge will bring the vertical clearance of the bridge up to 16 feet 6 inches from 14 feet 4 inches, to meet current standards. The bridge carries an average of 68,299 vehicles daily. The westbound bridge was constructed in 1950 and is still in good condition.

The project also will widen Route 46 eastbound and westbound from two lanes to three lanes in each direction to enhance safety and ease traffic congestion. The vertical height of Route 46 eastbound, just east of the bridge, will be increased to reduce roadway flooding. Four new overhead sign structures will be built. The project is expected to be completed in late 2022.

Portable variable message signs are 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 real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the NJDOT Facebook page or on Twitter @NJDOT_info.