Route 23 Southbound Lane to Close Overnight in Kinnelon for Bridge Project Shift

Traffic shift marks next phase in $78.2 million bridge replacement over Pequannock River

An overnight lane closure on Route 23 southbound in Kinnelon will take place Friday, August 22, as construction crews begin a traffic shift for the ongoing federally funded bridge replacement over the Pequannock River and Hamburg Turnpike. The shift is part of a long-term infrastructure upgrade spanning Morris and Passaic counties.

KINNELON, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will close one lane of Route 23 southbound on Friday, August 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, August 23, to implement a planned traffic shift as part of the $78.2 million Route 23 Bridge replacement project.

The overnight closure will begin just before High Crest Drive and extend southward past the Pequannock River bridge. At least one lane of southbound traffic will remain open throughout the night. Northbound lanes and the Hamburg Turnpike/CR 694 on-ramp to Route 23 northbound will not be affected, although a temporary stop sign will be installed at the ramp merge.

Traffic Shift Details

By 6 a.m. Saturday, southbound traffic on Route 23 will shift left:

• One lane will move onto the northbound side of the highway

• The second southbound lane will use the existing left lane

• The right lane and shoulder will be closed to create a work zone
  This setup allows workers to construct a temporary roadway and bridges that will support the next stages of the multi-year replacement project.

Project Background

The ongoing Route 23 bridge replacement spans mileposts 16.6 to 17.2, near the border of West Milford (Passaic County), Butler, and Kinnelon (Morris County). The project includes:

• Replacement of the bridge over the Pequannock River, Hamburg Turnpike, and railroad tracks

• Drainage and utility upgrades

• Temporary bridge construction to maintain traffic flow

Funded through federal infrastructure dollars, the project is expected to be completed by fall 2028.

Motorists should anticipate delays and use caution in the area. As with all roadwork, scheduling may change due to weather or operational conditions.

For real-time traffic updates and construction alerts, drivers can visit 511nj.org.