Route 21 southbound viaduct (McCarter Highway) to be rehabilitated in Newark
Work begins with northbound lane closures
(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the start of a project to rehabilitate the Route 21 southbound viaduct (McCarter Highway) between approximately Chester Avenue and Harvey Street in Newark, Essex County.
Beginning today, NJDOT’s contractor, De Foe Corporation, is scheduled to close one lane in the northbound direction for the duration of the project as work begins to remove existing pavement. Two travel lanes will be available during the day.
On two consecutive weekends—Friday, September 27 through Monday, September 30, and Friday, October 4 through Monday, October 7—two lanes will be closed in the northbound direction. The work on the weekend will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night until 6:00 a.m. the following Monday. One travel lane in the northbound direction will be maintained. The ramp from Passaic Street to Route 21 northbound also will be closed during the weekend construction.
Next week, Monday, September 30 through Thursday, October 3, two lanes may be closed overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day if necessary. One travel lane will be available during overnight construction.
Motorists should expect delays on Route 21 northbound and are encouraged to use alternate routes or to plan more travel time. The alternate northbound route will utilize 3rd Avenue, Broadway Avenue, which becomes Washington Avenue in Belleville Township, Joralemon Street and Main Street.
The $30.7 million project consists of replacing the deck, installing new parapets, and repairing the superstructure and substructure on the viaduct. In addition, the Route 21 bridge over Chester Avenue also will be replaced as part of this project. Route 21 consists of three lanes in each direction with the southbound viaduct directly over the northbound lanes. The viaduct, which is slightly more than a half-mile, was constructed in the early 1950s and consists of 38 spans. As the project advances, NJDOT will provide updates. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
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