Montclair Bridge In 'Poor Condition,' $11M Repair Project Begins

MONTCLAIR, NJ — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials have announced the closure of lanes on Bloomfield Avenue for the start of a project to rehabilitate the Bloomfield Avenue/CR 506 bridge over NJ Transit’s Montclair Rail Line near Maple Avenue.

On Friday, the NJDOT issued the following advisory:

“Beginning at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, until 5 a.m., the next day, and continuing overnights until Friday morning, Oct. 12, NJDOT’s contractor IEW Construction Group Inc., is scheduled to temporarily close two lanes on Bloomfield Avenue to begin preparation work on the start of a bridge rehabilitation project. During the preparation work, two lanes will be closed on either Bloomfield Avenue eastbound or Bloomfield Avenue westbound with one lane maintained in each direction.”

NJDOT officials continued:

“On Friday, October 12 at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., the next day, NJDOT’s contractor will again close lanes on Bloomfield Avenue to install a construction barrier and restripe the roadway. Once complete, a work zone will be created that maintains one lane westbound and two lanes eastbound. The single westbound lane closure is expected to remain in place for the next several months. A minimum of one lane will be maintained in each direction during construction.”

According to NJDOT officials, the $11.7 million, state-funded Bloomfield Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project will replace the bridge superstructure, which is in “poor condition.” The bridge is located on Bloomfield Avenue/CR506 over NJ Transit’s Montclair Rail Line near Maple Avenue.

“The project will be replacing the existing superstructure and will make necessary repairs to address the integrity of the substructure, including repairs to the existing wing walls,” NJDOT officials stated. “In addition, the bridge parapets and approach slabs will be repaired or replaced as needed. The four-lane bridge consists of two lanes and a pedestrian sidewalk in each direction.”

Construction on the bridge is expected to be completed by summer 2020, officials said.

“The project will be advanced in stages, in order to minimize impacts to motorists,” DOT officials said. “As construction advances, a temporary shuttle will be provided to accommodate pedestrians during necessary sidewalk closures on the bridge.”

The NJDOT said that workers will coordinate with NJ Transit and local authorities in advance of any required closures resulting from the construction project.

Officials said that 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.

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