NJDOT announces weekend closures of Route 46 and Route 19/Broad Street in Clifton City
Route 46 bridge decks will be replaced over four weekend periods

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced highway closures over four upcoming weekends as the Route 46 bridge decks over Route 19/Broad Street in both directions are replaced in the City of Clifton, Passaic County.

The new Route 46 bridge decks have been manufactured off site. The use of pre-cast concrete bridge components enables NJDOT to significantly shorten the construction schedule and minimize impacts to traffic on both highways.

NJDOT’s contractor, J.F. Creamer in a joint venture with Sanzari, Inc., will close Route 46 eastbound over Route 19/Broad Street this weekend, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night, March 25, reopening by 5 a.m. Monday, March 28. A second weekend closure of Route 46 eastbound, during the same hours, is planned for the weekend of April 1.

The Route 46 westbound bridge deck will be replaced over two subsequent weekend periods, with Route 46 westbound being closed to traffic. Notice will be provided in advance of the Route 46 westbound closures.

Route 19/Broad Street will be closed in both directions underneath Route 46 all four weekends, as well.

The following detours will be in effect during the first two weekend closures:

• Route 46 eastbound motorists will take the Broad Street exit on to Broad Street northbound to the Route 46 eastbound entrance ramp (east of the bridge).

• Motorists destined for the Garden State Parkway northbound will be allowed to continue on Route 46 eastbound past Broad Street to the GSP entrance ramp.

• Route 19/Broad Street northbound motorists will take the Route 46 eastbound entrance ramp on to Route 46 eastbound to Paulison Avenue interchange make a U-turn on to Route 46 westbound to Route 19/Broad Street northbound.

• Route 19/Broad Street southbound motorists will take Route 46 westbound to Van Houten Avenue to Grove Street to Route 46 eastbound to Broad Street.

The work at Broad Street is part of a project that is replacing and repairing three other, nearby bridges along and over Route 46 in Clifton. Construction operations recently resumed at the Main Avenue bridge over Route 46. The Route 46 bridge decks over Paulison Avenue and the Norfolk Southern railroad line are also being repaired.

All four bridges being addressed by this project were built in the early 1900’s. The project also will resurface mainline Route 46 from Grove Street to east of Paulison Avenue. NJDOT anticipates the $5.9 million project will be completed in fall 2011.

All work is weather dependent. Variable Message signs will provide motorists with advance notification of traffic pattern changes. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.