5-16-2023 4:17pm

Massive Pavement Preservation Projects Begin on Route 1&9 and I-80

Major Roadworks Commence: Anticipate Delays and Detours on Routes 1&9 and I-80.

Commuters across Union and Morris counties are being asked to brace themselves as major pavement preservation projects get underway on Route 1&9 and I-80, with overnight lane closures and traffic delays expected to continue for several weeks.

The Department of Transportation announced the commencement of a $7.0 million federally-funded project on Route 1&9, starting Monday, May 15. The project, set to run from South Inman Avenue in Rahway through Linden to Dowd Avenue in Elizabeth, Union County, will require daytime closures of the right shoulder from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. over the coming weeks.

The shoulder closures will begin on Route 1&9 northbound from Randolph Avenue in Rahway, progressing north. Once the northbound work is completed, the closures will switch to the southbound right shoulder, starting from North Avenue in Elizabeth and heading south to Randolph Avenue in Rahway.

These closures are part of an effort to upgrade curbs and install ADA-compliant curb ramps where necessary. The DOT is advising motorists to slow down, exercise caution, expect potential delays, or consider planning an alternate route.

On the other hand, nighttime commuters on I-80 eastbound between Route 46/Ledgewood Avenue and Berkshire Valley Road in Roxbury and Mount Arlington, Morris County, are set to face varying lane closures beginning Monday, May 15. The closures, necessary for milling and paving, will be implemented between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, for the next several weeks.

Additionally, brief ramp closures and detours at the Route 46 interchange will be required on Tuesday, May 16, and Wednesday, May 17, from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day, for milling and paving.

The work is part of a $2.3 million federally funded project to preserve about four miles of pavement on I-80 eastbound. The project, expected to be completed in the summer of 2023, will not only improve driving conditions on I-80 with the addition of rumble strips and new signage but also includes paving all ramps within the project limits.

Both projects may experience shifts in schedule due to weather or other unforeseen factors. As these significant roadworks get underway, local commuters are urged to plan ahead, stay informed, and remain patient to ensure their journeys are as smooth as possible.