Clay Street Bridge Closed Until Late December

Clay Street Bridge, which connects Newark to East Newark, will remained closed until Dec. 31 for construction.

"We have closed the Clay Street Bridge to build a new facility that will enable us to treat the Combined Sewer Discharges in accordance with NJDEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) mandates," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker in a statement. "I ask residents and motorists to continue to show patience and use alternate routes while we complete this important project to help clean the Passaic River for our residents and the residents of the state."

The closure of the bridge,, will accommodate the construction of the Clay Street Combined Sewer Overflow Solids/Floatables Control Facility and sewer pipes that will connect to the structure.

The facility will allow for the screening of all combined overflow during heavy storms. Once completed, the debris collected by the screening process will be transported to the Passaic Vailley Sewerage Commission's site in the East Ward for processing, while the overflow water will go into the Passaic River, city officials said in a statement.

The project is being coordinated by the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities with the Borough of East Newark, the Town of Kearny, the Town of Harrison, Essex County, Hudson County, the City’s Division of Traffic & Signals and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Scafar Contracting, Inc., of Newark is the contractor on the project.