The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced the full closure of the Pulaski Skyway in both directions this weekend for rocker bent work as the rehabilitation of the historic 91-year-old bridge advances in Jersey City.
The Department will take advantage of this closure to allow for other maintenance operations and bi-annual inspections to occur within the closed work zone to mitigate the need for future lane closures. The closure began at 9 p.m. this evening and will continue until 10 a.m. Sunday, June 25.
NJDOT’s contractor, Skanska Koch, is scheduled to close and detour the Pulaski Skyway to all traffic in both directions. The Skyway southbound and the northbound left lane will reopen by 10 a.m. Sunday. The right lane on the Skyway northbound will remain closed until 3 p.m. when all northbound lanes will reopen. The closure is necessary to allow the contractor to jack the Skyway at span 49 over the Broadway Avenue ramp for rocker bent work in Jersey City.
In addition, there will be blast cleaning and painting of the overhead bridge truss at span 44 over the railroads in Jersey City. If work is completed early, the Skyway will reopen sooner. To avoid delays, NJDOT is encouraging motorists to use the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations, including the Holland Tunnel, I-78, or to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 Truck southbound. All other motorists will be directed to Route 1&9 Truck in both directions.
Northbound Closure and Detour The northbound closure will begin past Newark Liberty International Airport with the Route 1&9 Express Lanes directed onto the Local Lanes. Traffic will follow Route 1&9 Truck northbound to the intersection of Route 7, Route 139, and Route 1&9 in Jersey City. Northbound motorists heading to Hoboken, Jersey City or New York City also may use the New Jersey Turnpike-Hudson County Extension (I-78 eastbound).
Southbound Closure and Detour The southbound closure on Route 139 lower roadway will begin over the Tonnelle Circle. All traffic coming from Route 139 will be directed to the off ramp to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 Truck southbound. In addition, the ramp from the Tonnele Circle on to Pulaski Skyway southbound will also be closed. Traffic on Route 1&9 southbound heading toward Tonnelle Circle is encouraged to stay right and use the prior ramp to Route 1&9 Truck.
Southbound Detour (toward Newark): Leaving the Holland Tunnel, motorists will have the following options: • Stay to the far right and take the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations west and south, including I-78 – This is the recommended option. • Stay to the left and follow signs for Route 139 West, then stay left to Route 1&9 Truck southbound towards Newark, Route 7 and I-280.
Local Traffic for Jersey City: • Stay to the middle to take Route 139 Upper Roadway and follow signs to Kennedy Boulevard/Jersey City, to best access many local Jersey City locations and other points north (Secaucus).
Kearny Ramp Detour • Motorists looking to take the Pulaski Skyway northbound from the Kearny ramp will be directed to take Adams Street • Turn left onto 2nd Street • Turn right onto Central Avenue • Cross over Route 1&9 Truck • Take the ramp onto Route 1&9 Truck northbound • Follow Route 1&9 Truck northbound to the intersection of Route 7, Route 139, and Route 1&9 in Jersey City.
The work is part of Contract 8B of the Pulaski Skyway rehabilitation project, which is being advanced through multiple construction contracts. The Department is carefully coordinating the Pulaski Skyway project with other regional transportation infrastructure projects to minimize traffic congestion.
The Department has a project hotline telephone number, 973-776-7400, and email, Pulaski.Skyway@dot.nj.gov. Anyone who has questions, concerns, or suggestions is encouraged to contact the Project Outreach Team as work progresses.
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 www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NewJerseyDOT or on the NJDOT Facebook page.