Traffic pattern changes coming to Route 22/Bonnie Burn Road interchange in Scotch Plains and Watchung

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced an upcoming traffic pattern change at the Route 22/Park Avenue and Bonnie Burn Road interchange.

NJDOT is making safety and operational improvements at the interchange of Route 22 with Park Avenue and Bonnie Burn Road in Scotch Plains, Union County and Watchung Borough, Somerset County.

On Friday, September 10, NJDOT will close the left-turn movement from the Route 22 ramp onto Bonnie Burn Road for approximately two months. The ramp over Route 22 will maintain one lane in each direction. Bonnie Burn Road will be reconfigured to a one-way northbound road shifted onto the newly reconstructed eastern side of the roadway for approximately .25 miles north of Route 22.

Route 22 traffic is currently shifted to the south at the Park Avenue bridge approach, with a permanent work-zone established on the northern side of the bridge. One lane of Route 22 is maintained in each direction during normal work hours.

NJDOT is addressing the current traffic congestion issues throughout the Route 22 interchange with Bonnie Burn Road and Park Avenue by widening the Bonnie Burn Road/New Providence Road intersection with the Route 22 overpass. Once completed the new interchange will include a dedicated left-turn, dedicated right-turn, and one through-lane at all four roadway approaches. The Route 22 overpass and the Park Avenue/Sunset Place intersection with the Route 22 overpass will be widened to include dedicated left-turn lanes as well, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection. NJDOT will also rehabilitate the Green Brook culvert retaining walls in order to reinforce the existing Route 22 overpass.

NJDOT will also improve the existing drainage system and make landscaping improvements throughout the interchange. The $4.9 million federally-funded project began construction in January 2010 and is anticipated for completion by the end of 2011.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of the start of construction and any upcoming traffic pattern changes on Route 22. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org