Route 22 westbound safety improvement project begins in Union

Auxiliary lane to be built from Gary Road to Vauxhall Road

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the start of a safety improvement project that will add an auxiliary lane and sidewalks on Route 22 westbound near Vauxhall Road in Union. This work was originally scheduled for last weekend but was rescheduled because of weather.

The $2.2 million federally-funded project will construct an auxiliary lane on Route 22 westbound from Gary Road to the Vauxhall exit ramp in Union and improve the deceleration and acceleration lane for the Route 22 exit to, and the entrance from, Sayre Road. In addition, a sidewalk will be provided along Route 22 between Vauxhall Road and Sayre Road and the pedestrian stairway that connects Route 22 westbound and Vauxhall road will be realigned. Drainage will be improved by adding inlets and the roadway will be repaved.

Beginning at 10 p.m., tonight, Friday, September 20 until 6 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, 21, NJDOT’s contractor, New Prince Concrete, will alternate closing one lane of Route 22 westbound between Gary Road and Sayre Road in Union to restripe the roadway to narrow lanes and shift traffic. At least one lane will remain open overnight while work is taking place.

By Saturday morning when all lanes are reopened, the two lanes will be narrowed from 12-feet wide to 11-feet wide and will be shifted left toward the concrete median to provide a wider shoulder. The wider shoulder will allow multiple utilities to relocate their equipment. This configuration is expected to be in place until the fall, when the project will move into a new stage. The overall project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.

Variable Message Signs will provide advance notification to motorists of the 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 follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info and on the NJDOT Facebook page.

Please note, the NJDOT Communications Office has a new phone number – 609-963-1975.