NJDOT announces I-80 bridge deck replacements in Parsippany-Troy Hills

(Trenton) - Commissioner James Simpson today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will reconstruct the I-80 bridge decks in both directions over I-287 northbound and Smith Road in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County.

The $6.4 million project will replace the four existing, structurally deficient bridge decks and is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

“The replacement of these I-80 bridge decks exemplifies NJDOT’s continuous investment and commitment to maintaining a state of good repair on our state's highway and bridge infrastructure,” said Simpson.

In mid-February NJDOT’s contractor, Sparwick Contracting, is scheduled to begin installing safety shielding in advance of the bridge deck replacement work, first at Smith Road and then I-287. This work will require temporary lane closures on Smith Road during off-peak travel times and is estimated to require about a week to complete. Soon after, the safety shielding over I-287 northbound will be installed, requiring temporary lane closures during off-peak travel times for approximately two weeks on I-287 northbound. All work is weather permitting.

NJDOT has scheduled the construction to allow for the maximum number of travel lanes to remain open on I-80, I-287 and Smith Road during peak travel times. Construction operations will require periodic overnight closures of the I-80 eastbound ramp to I-287 northbound. During the ramp closures, I-80 eastbound motorists bound for I-287 northbound will use the ramp to I-287 southbound to the CR 511/Parsippany Road interchange to make a U-turn back onto I-287 northbound.

NJDOT is replacing these bridge decks in advance of a project, currently in design, that proposes to resurface and reconstruct more than four miles of I-80 through Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of upcoming traffic pattern changes. New Jersey State Troopers will be utilized as necessary to assist with traffic control. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.