NJDOT to close westbound express lanes
on Route 78

Closures to take effect Saturday

The express lanes will remain closed until December, while existing traffic will be maintained in four local lanes. The entrance and exit ramps from the Garden State Parkway onto I-78 westbound will be maintained. At the I-78/Route 24 split, two of the four westbound lanes will continue on as westbound I-78 and two lanes will split onto westbound Route 24.

NJDOT began the $42 million resurfacing and pavement reconstruction on Route 78 in Union Township, Union County on August 4, 2006 and construction is scheduled for completion in December 2007. The existing roadway is seriously deteriorated and in need of a complete rehabilitation.

This Hyperbuild project will make significant safety and operational improvements resulting in a safer and smoother roadway. NJDOT saved $12 million, reduced construction time by one year and increased the life expectancy of the pavement by ten years by reconstructing the express lanes simultaneously. This paving method eliminates the formation of longitudinal cracks between lanes that commonly result from paving each roadway lane individually.

Motorists are encouraged to obey the posted 50 miles-per-hour speed limit and drive carefully to protect themselves and workers in the construction zone. All truck traffic entering Route I-78 westbound from the NJ Turnpike Exit 14 is expected to stay to the right until the traffic crossover located near Exit 52 (GSP).

NJDOT has installed 15 Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) at strategic points along I-78, Route 24, the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to alert motorists of the upcoming changes to traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website, njcommuter.com, for project updates.

Real-time traffic delays will be reported via these variable message signs, highway advisory radio stations, traffic media services and njcommuter.com.