ITS installation to require closures on I-78 in Springfield

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced upcoming lane and shoulder closures on I-78 in Springfield Township for the installation of new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) traffic management tools.

On Tuesday, September 7, NJDOT will begin installing ITS readers on the Springfield Avenue bridge over I-78, as well as ITS readers, conduit and cable across each travel lane on I-78 in both directions around milepost 50. In order to install the ITS equipment, the following traffic pattern changes/lane closures will be necessary on I-78:

• Temporary daytime right shoulder closures in either direction on I-78.

• Nighttime complete closure of the Express lanes in one or both directions for five nights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning, beginning Monday, September 13.

• Nighttime closure of two Local lanes in one or both directions for approximately three nights, from 6:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning, beginning Monday, September 13. One Local lane will be maintained at all times.

• At no time will Express and Local lanes be closed at the same time in the same direction.

The $25 million state-funded project has resurfaced I-78 from Drift Road in Watchung Borough, Somerset County to Route 124 in Berkeley Heights, Union County and also included the repair of 19 bridge decks along I-78 and guide rail replacement.

NJDOT began construction in July, 2008 and completed all resurfacing operations on Route 78 in both directions within the project limits last fall. Construction resumed this past April for the bridge deck repairs. This ITS installation will be the last order of business for the project.

Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org or by calling 511.