Route 22 Westbound Resurfacing: Expect Nighttime Lane Closures in Mountainside

Route 22 westbound in Union County is set for overnight lane closures starting Friday, November 10, to accommodate a critical bridge deck replacement over Echo Lake in Mountainside, impacting traffic near local landmarks.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announces temporary lane closures on Route 22 westbound for restriping operations as part of an extensive bridge deck replacement project. This essential initiative begins at 10 p.m. on November 10, with closures spanning from milepost 50.8, adjacent to the popular Hibachi restaurant, to milepost 50.6, at the eastbound U-turn's left entrance lane.

Construction crews will initiate the restriping in the left lane, redirecting traffic toward the median. This initial phase will be followed by the closure of the right lane to install construction barriers, ensuring at least one lane remains open throughout the night.

By the morning of Saturday, November 11, motorists traveling westbound will find themselves on a temporary roadway along the median. This shift is a vital step in the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge's right side, with the current traffic pattern projected to last until spring 2024.

The undertaking is part of a larger $9 million federally funded project aimed at replacing the culvert beneath the Route 22 Bridge over Echo Lake. The NJDOT has designed the project to unfold in phases to keep travel lanes open during the duration, with an anticipated completion in fall 2024.