I-78 Lane Closures Expected This Weekend In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Drivers can expect lane closures on Interstate 78 West this weekend so that the bridges over Washington Valley Road and Routes 202/206 deck replacement project can advance in Bedminster and Bridgewater, New Jersey Department of Transportation(NJDOT) announced Friday.

Beginning at 7 a.m., Saturday, until 8 a.m. Sunday, the right lane on I-78 West is scheduled to be closed after the Exit 33 on-ramp through Exit 29/I-287.

The closure is necessary for milling and paving. At least two lanes will be maintained during the day on Saturday and Exit 29 to I-287 northbound and southbound will remain open, according to NJDOT.

The Scenic Overlook is also being closed beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, and will remain closed until the project is completed.

In addition, a second lane on I-78 westbound is scheduled to be closed before the Scenic Overlook through Exit 29 beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday. One lane will be maintained ,and Exit 29 to I-287 northbound and southbound will remain open.

The closure is necessary to restripe the roadway, said NJDOT.

Motorists on I-78 westbound should expect congestion and delays this weekend and may want to consider alternate routes.

The current traffic configuration has the left two lanes shifted onto the temporary bridge in the median over Washington Valley Road and a single right lane maintained on the mainline to create a work zone to demolish and reconstruct the right side of the bridge. All lanes are through lanes.

After the temporary bridge over Washington Valley Road, all three lanes come back together and then split once again. The two left lanes are shifted onto the temporary bridge over Routes 202/206 to continue on I-78, and the right lane on the mainline is an exit-only lane for I-287. Traffic wishing to take I-287 must be in the right lane to access the exit.

The traffic shift onto the temporary median bridges began in February and is necessary to demolish and reconstruct the right side of the bridges. This configuration is expected to be in place until summer 2025.

The $67 million federally funded project will replace both eastbound and westbound bridge decks that carry I-78 over Routes 202/206 and Washington Valley Road, which are in poor condition.

In addition, the existing guardrail will be updated to current standards. New approach slabs will be constructed at all four bridges, and the roadway will be resurfaced within project limits. The project was designed to advance in stages to minimize impacts on motorists, beginning with the eastbound bridges. Construction of all bridges is expected to be completed by late spring 2026.

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