Ramp Linking I-78 and the Garden State Parkway to be Closed Overnight for Final Paving

Final paving operations will require overnight closures and lane reductions on the ramps linking Interstate 78 eastbound and westbound to the Garden State Parkway (GSP) this week in Union and Hillside, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced.

On Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13, the I-78 westbound ramp to the GSP Toll Plaza will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day.  I-78 westbound motorists destined for the GSP will continue to the next interchange (Exit 50A) to Vauxhall Road back to I-78 eastbound to the GSP Toll Plaza.  The I-78 eastbound ramp to the GSP will be reduced from two lanes to one both nights as well.

Pavement reconstruction is nearing completion on I-78 in both directions near the Parkway interchange, a section of roadway that takes a beating from heavy truck traffic to and from nearby major ports. 

NJDOT’s contractor, Union Paving and Construction Co, will begin final paving operations on the I-78 westbound Express and the Local lanes in each direction between mileposts 52.5 and 54 Monday, May 16.  This work will require overnight lane closures on the mainline highway and periodic closures of the I-78 eastbound Express to Local crossover and the I-78 westbound Local to Express crossover ramps.  Final paving on I-78 is expected to be completed in June.

The $150 million project for the first time fully connects the Garden State Parkway interchange 142 with Interstate 78 located in Hillside and Union Townships, Union County and Irvington Township, Essex County. New flyover ramps have been constructed from the Garden State Parkway northbound to I-78 westbound and the Garden State Parkway southbound to I-78 eastbound, greatly improving traffic flow around the interchange of the two superhighways.

NJDOT is also extending and upgrading the acceleration and deceleration lanes, improving the capacity of ramps connecting motorists to the Parkway from I-78, and installing an Intelligent Transportation System for travel alerts.

All construction operations are expected to be completed in fall 2011.  Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org