Route 80 Traffic Shifts to Begin in Morris County

Published on September 17, 2020

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced today that a traffic shift will begin Friday, Sept. 18, on I-80 Westbound as the replacement project for I-80 bridges over the Rockaway River advances in Roxbury, Jefferson, and Rockaway, Morris County

Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, NJDOT's Contractor, I.E.W. Construction Group Inc., is scheduled to close the left lane on I-80 westbound near the bridges over the Rockaway River and shift traffic onto the temporary roadway between the east and westbound spans.

At 10 p.m., the center lane will be closed and shifted. Crews will be working overnight to install construction barriers and complete roadway striping necessary for the traffic shift. By 6 a.m. Saturday, westbound lanes will be shifted onto the temporary bridge to allow for demolition and reconstruction of the westbound span.

This traffic pattern is anticipated to remain in place until summer 2021.

The $20.8 million federally-funded project is replacing both eastbound and westbound spans, which are in poor condition. In addition, the existing guiderail is being 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 summer 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. For NJDOT news follow the department on Twitter @NJDOT_info and on the NJDOT Facebook page.