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news release

P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ
Contact: Tim Greeley or Joe Dee
609-530-4280
RELEASE: February 11, 2013


Final Route 3 Passaic River bridge demolition blast scheduled for this week


(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced that the sixth and final demolition blast to the foundation of the old Route 3 bridge across the Passaic River is planned for approximately 10 a.m. this Wednesday, February 13.

NJDOT’s contractor, Creamer-Sanzari JV, has completed five (5) controlled demolition blasting operations in the past two weeks. As with the previous blasts, standard safety procedures will require a brief, temporary stoppage of all traffic on the river itself, as well as the following roadways during the blast:

• Route 3 in both directions between mileposts 3.8 and 5.1 (approximately ½ mile from the bridge in each direction).
• Riverside Avenue in both directions between Rutherford Avenue and Marginal Road, and the ramp from Riverside Avenue to Route 3 westbound.

The contractor is timing the blasts to coincide with the peak of high tide. Variable Message Signs will provide advance notification to motorists throughout the blasting area.

In late-2012 the Route 3 westbound travel lanes were shifted onto a newly completed portion of the new westbound bridge. Route 3 is now carrying three travel lanes in each direction on the outer thirds of the new raised level Route 3 Passaic River bridge. Demolition of the old bridge is nearing completion, with construction of the inner third of the new structure to begin in the spring. Ultimately the new Passaic River bridge will carry five travel lanes in each direction – three mainline travel lanes and two auxilary lanes.

Completed in 1949, the old Route 3 Passaic River Bridge was a significant example of a double-bascule trunnion bridge. Due to the decrease in river transportation, the drawbridge has not been opened since the late-1980s, and many movable bridges on the Passaic River have been replaced with fixed spans. The old bridge was structurally-deficient and functionally obsolete.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather, on-site job conditions or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.

 
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  Department of Transportation
  P.O. Box 600
  Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
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  Last Updated:  May 30, 2013