Construction Starts on Route 3 Bridges

The New Jersey Department of Transportation started construction to rehabilitate the Route 3 bridges over the Hackensack River Friday.

The bridges link Bergen County to the west to the Lincoln Tunnel to the west. About 130,000 motorists use the bridges daily.

On or about March 4, NJDOT will convert the auxiliary lane from the Meadowlands Parkway to Route 3 westbound into a full travel lane. There will still be three lanes of traffic over the bridge, shifted to the right. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place for three months.

NJDOT says three travel lanes will be available in each direction during daytime and peak hours. There will be temporary lane closures at night during off-peak hours, but not during events at the Meadowlands complex.

The rehabilitation project is expected to cost $17.6 million. Both bridges have been deemed structurally deficient.

The eastbound bridge was built in 1934 and modified in 1964 and the westbound bridge was built in 1963. NJDOT will completely replace the westbound bridge deck and perform concrete repairs on the substructure.

The substructure of the eastbound bridge will also be repaired, along with the steel truss. NJDOT will also install a new guide rail.

The project is expected to be completed in winter 2012.

New Rail Schedules

New schedules will take effect March 13 on all NJ Transit rail lines. Check the attached schedules for details.

Traffic Advisories

• The eastbound lower level of the George Washington Bridge will be completely closed to traffic Monday through Thursday from 11 p.m. each evening to 5 a.m. the following morning for maintenance.
• All lanes of the eastbound Lincoln Tunnel helix will be closed from 11:59 p.m. Tuesday until 4:30 a.m. Wednesday for maintenance. Motorists will be directed to detours for the access to the tunnel. Just one lane will be available in each direction from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday for maintenance.
• One lane will be closed in each direction of the Holland Tunnel for maintenance Monday to Thursday from 11 p.m. each evening to 5 a.m. the following morning for maintenance.