Final weekend closure set for Route 21 southbound
in Newark

(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced the final weekend closure of Route 21 (McCarter Highway) southbound for maintenance repairs on the viaduct in Newark.

Route 21 southbound will be fully closed to traffic between Exit 4 (Chester Avenue) and 3rd Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, October 21 until around 5 a.m. Monday, October 24. The left and center lanes will be closed a half-mile north of Exit 4 to help funnel traffic to the right for the detour.

• Route 21 southbound motorists will be detoured at Exit 4 (Chester Avenue) to Broadway south to 3rd Avenue and back to Route 21 southbound.

This will be the final full closure needed under this repair contract, which began in August and has required multiple full weekend closures of Route 21 southbound at this location. NJDOT’s bridge maintenance contractor, I.E.W., is repairing the concrete bridge pier caps on the viaduct that carries the Route 21 southbound travel lanes over Route 21 northbound.

Single lane closures will be allowed on Route 21 northbound and southbound daily, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., for continued work through the end of the year.

Variable message signs will be utilized to provide advance warning of the closures. The work and resulting traffic pattern changes have been coordinated with Newark officials.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website real-time travel information.