August 14, 2006 (rt23 news) - (Trenton) - Commissioner Kris Kolluri announced that beginning Saturday, August 12 at 6 a.m., the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will close the express lanes in the westbound direction of I-78 between the Garden State Parkway (Exit 52) in Union Township and Route 24 (Exit 48) in Springfield Township, Union County.

The express lanes will remain closed until December, while existing traffic will be maintained in four local lanes. The entrance and exit ramps from the Garden State Parkway onto I-78 westbound will be maintained. At the I-78/Route 24 split, two of the four westbound lanes will continue on as westbound I-78 and two lanes will split onto westbound Route 24.

NJDOT began the $42 million resurfacing and pavement reconstruction on Route 78 in Union Township, Union County on August 4, 2006 and construction is scheduled for completion in December 2007. The existing roadway is seriously deteriorated and in need of a complete rehabilitation.

This Hyperbuild project will make significant safety and operational improvements resulting in a safer and smoother roadway. NJDOT saved $12 million, reduced construction time by one year and increased the life expectancy of the pavement by ten years by reconstructing the express lanes simultaneously. This paving method eliminates the formation of longitudinal cracks between lanes that commonly result from paving each roadway lane individually.

Motorists are encouraged to obey the posted 50 miles-per-hour speed limit and drive carefully to protect themselves and workers in the construction zone. All truck traffic entering Route I-78 westbound from the NJ Turnpike Exit 14 is expected to stay to the right until the traffic crossover located near Exit 52 (GSP).

NJDOT has installed 15 Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) at strategic points along I-78, Route 24, the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to alert motorists of the upcoming changes to traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT�s traffic information website, njcommuter.com, for project updates.

Real-time traffic delays will be reported via these variable message signs, highway advisory radio stations, traffic media services and njcommuter.com.

Alternate Travel Options for Route 78 Commuters

On Friday, August 4, the New Jersey Department of Transportation will begin an improvement project on a four-mile stretch of Route 78 between Route 24 and the Garden State Parkway. As a result, beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 4, the eastbound express lanes between Exit 48 (Route 24) in Springfield and Exit 52 (Garden State Parkway) will close until December. Beginning at 9 p.m. on August 11, the westbound express lanes in the same area will close until December.

Commuters who travel via Route 78 may wish to consider the public transportation alternatives listed below to avoid potential traffic congestion.

Please note: Seating on trains may be limited during the peak period (from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.). Customers are advised to arrive at stations before or after peak times for the most comfortable trip. In addition, customers are encouraged to get dropped off at stations, as parking is limited.

For travel by rail to Newark, Midtown, Lower Manhattan:

Raritan Valley Line to Newark/New York:

• Customers traveling to midtown Manhattan transfer at Newark Penn Station for New York-bound trains.
• Customers traveling to lower Manhattan transfer to PATH trains at Newark Penn Station.
• Customers
  traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport transfer at Newark Penn Station to North Jersey Coast Line or Northeast Corridor trains serving Newark Airport Station.

Morris & Essex Lines to Newark/Hoboken/New York:

• Customers traveling to midtown Manhattan take Morris & Essex Lines MidTOWN DIRECT service into NewYork Penn Station.
• Customers traveling to lower Manhattan take Morris & Essex Lines service to Hoboken and transfer to ferry service or PATH trains.
• Customers traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport take Morris & Essex Lines MidTOWN DIRECT service and transfer at Secaucus Junction to North Jersey Coast Line or Northeast Corridor trains serving Newark Airport Station.
• Airport customers may also transfer to Newark Light Rail at Newark Broad Street Station for travel to Newark Penn Station, where they transfer to North Jersey Coast Line or Northeast Corridor trains serving Newark Airport Station.