I-80 westbound traffic shift as Bridge over Route 46 project nears completion in Morris County

Overnight lane closures this weekend to return to final configuration

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the completion of the I-80 median and abutment wing walls as the bridges over Route 46 reconstruction project nears completion ahead of schedule in Roxbury, Morris County.

Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 10, until 6 a.m. the next day, NJDOT’s contractor, Ferreira Construction Co. Inc., is scheduled to close two lanes to restripe the roadway to shift I-80 westbound into its final configuration. Traffic had been shifted to the right, utilizing the right shoulder as a travel lane while work took place in the center median.

The I-80 westbound Bridge over Route 46 was completed and opened in December 2018. Since then the temporary bridge was removed and the I-80 median and abutment wing walls were reconstructed. Next weekend, I-80 eastbound is scheduled to be shifted back to its final configuration. Once that is complete, there is some minor guiderail, inlet and landscaping work that will take place over the next several weeks to complete the project, but this work should not affect traffic.

The $15.1 million federally-funded project advanced in stages, first replacing the I-80 eastbound bridge, followed by the I-80 westbound bridge. Each two-span concrete bridge was replaced by single-span steel girder structure with concrete bridge decks. The vertical clearance was raised to 14 feet-9 inches to improve safety for tall vehicles on Route 46.

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 was provided on each new bridge to maintain three travel lanes in each direction as construction progressed. Work on the first bridge, I-80 eastbound, was completed in August 2018. Work on the I-80 westbound bridge was completed in December 2018. Three travel lanes were maintained at all times during the reconstruction of the two bridges to minimize impacts to motorists. Final 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.

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.

Please note, the NJDOT Communications office has a new phone number – 609.963.1975