Official Site of The State of New Jersey

This project’s purpose is to mill, resurface, and reconstruct the deteriorated pavement and rehabilitate ineffective drainage facilities along Route 18 between the NJ Turnpike and Rues Lane/CR 617. Additional improvements will be made to sidewalks, traffic signals, guiderail and other roadway elements as well.

Within the project limits, the existing pavement is deteriorated and has substandard cross slopes. Existing sidewalk, curbing, curb ramps, signalized intersections, and guiderail need to be upgraded to meet current Federal and/or State standards. The existing drainage infrastructure in the project corridor is unable to handle major storm events and is prone to flooding conditions.

Construction will take place in both the northbound and southbound directions on Route 18 in New Brunswick, starting from milepost 35.40 (south of Rues Lane/CR 617) and ending at milepost 39.54 (south of the NJ Turnpike crossing). The project is located entirely within East Brunswick Township in Middlesex County.

This project includes improvements to roadway, traffic signals, drainage, stormwater management and utilities. The proposed work is described in detail under Final Design and Construction.

The construction cost is $86.1 million.

A contract for construction of the project was awarded in June 2022. Construction activities commenced in January 2023, with substantial project completion anticipated in summer 2026.

The project will maintain access to all existing street connections during the day. When a street closure is implemented for overnight work, there will be posted detours. Access will be maintained to all driveways during business hours and at least one driveway to each property will remain open at all times. Street or driveway signs will be posted as needed or where beneficial to indicate access throughout the project.

The project will comply with all Federal and State environmental commitments and permit conditions. The project was required to obtain an FHWA Categorical Exclusion Document, an NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit, Freshwater Wetlands General Permit 11, Water Quality Certificate, and NJPDES 5G3 Construction Stormwater Permit.

Overnight detours are expected during construction for street closures and resurfacing on ramps throughout the project, including jughandle ramps and the Cranbury and Milltown roads interchange ramps. All detours will be well marked and are not anticipated to affect travel during the day.

Long-term single lane closures in both directions on Route 18 are anticipated for the duration of construction. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction, except overnight, and traffic signal timings will be adjusted to help move traffic along Route 18 to mitigate delays. However, delays should be expected during the morning and evening commute during the week. Delays can be reduced or avoided by adjusting travel times or using alternate routes.

Overnight closures may reduce traffic to a single lane in each direction, but only during those hours of lowest traffic volumes. Work related to gas mains will require weekend closures of two southbound lanes along Route 18. NJDOT will provide advance notice of any lane closures.