Route 80 Near Smith Road To Start Lane Shifts, Overnight Closures

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced upcoming traffic shifts on Interstate 80 in both directions over I-287 northbound and Smith Road in Parsippany.

On Friday, all I-80 westbound travel lanes will be shifted to the right. There will also be overnight lane closures  in place by 6 a.m. Saturday.  In the case of rain Friday night, the traffic shift will take place Saturday night into Sunday morning.

On April 15, NJDOT is scheduled to shift all I-80 eastbound travel lanes to the right, establishing the new work zone in the center portion of the highway, defined with concrete construction barrier.   This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place for approximately four months.

NJDOT has scheduled the construction to allow for the maximum number of travel lanes to remain open on I-80, I-287 and Smith Road during peak travel times.  Construction operations will require periodic overnight closures of the I-80 eastbound ramp to I-287 northbound.  During the ramp closures, I-80 eastbound motorists bound for I-287 northbound will use the ramp to I-287 southbound to the CR 511/Parsippany Road interchange to make a U-turn back onto I-287 northbound.

NJDOT began the $6.4 million project to replace the four existing, structurally deficient bridge decks in January, installing safety shielding underneath each bridge.  Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

NJDOT is replacing these bridge decks in advance of a project, currently in design, that proposes to resurface and reconstruct more than four miles of I-80 through Parsippany-Troy Hills.  

Variable message signs will notify motorists of upcoming traffic pattern changes.  New Jersey State Police will be utilized as necessary to assist with traffic control.  NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.