Morris County Roads: Route 80 Partial Closure and Lane Shifts Tonight Over Rockaway River

Published on December 06, 2019

Part of Bridge Replacement Projects in Morris County

The New Jersey Department of Transportation today announced a traffic shift on I-80 eastbound as the I-80 Bridges over Rockaway River replacement project advances in Roxbury, Jefferson, and Rockaway, Morris County.

Beginning today at 8 p.m., (Friday Dec. 6) NJDOT's contractor IEW Construction Group, Inc. is scheduled to close the left lane of I-80 eastbound in the vicinity of the bridge and shift traffic onto a newly-constructed temporary road located between the eastbound and westbound spans.

At 10 p.m., the center lane on I-80 eastbound will be closed and shifted. Crews will work overnight to install a construction barrier and complete roadway striping necessary for the traffic shift.

By 6 a.m., tomorrow morning (Saturday, Dec. 7), all three eastbound lanes will be shifted onto the temporary bridge to allow for demolition and reconstruction of the eastbound span. This traffic pattern is anticipated to be in place until Summer 2020.

The $20.8 million federally-funded project will replace both eastbound and westbound spans, which are in poor condition. In addition, the existing guiderail will be brought up to current standards.

The project was designed to advance in stages to minimize impact on motorists, beginning with the eastbound span. Construction of both bridges is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Variable Message Signs will provide advance notification to motorists of 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.