I-78 Lanes To Close For Bridge Replacement Project In Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Drivers should expect lane closures on Interstate 78 West this weekend.

The two left lanes on I-78 westbound are scheduled to be closed Saturday for bridge work as the I-78 westbound Bridges over Washington Valley Road and Routes 202/206 deck replacement project advances in Bedminster and Bridgewater, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation(NJDOT).

The truck detour that was put in place on May 2 will remain in place.

On Saturday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., the two left lanes on I-78 westbound are scheduled to close beginning at milepost 34.4, which is after Exit 33, through milepost 31.8, which is between the bridge over Washington Valley Road and the bridge over Route 202/206.

The closure is necessary for joint repairs, concrete repairs, and other work on the temporary bridge in the median over Washington Valley Road, said NJDOT.

All traffic will be directed to use the single right lane cattle chute, which has a construction barrier on either side. Access to Exit 29 will be maintained. Motorists should use caution and slow down through the work zone.

Truck Detour

A detour for wide-load and heavy trucks, which went into effect on May 2, will remain in place. The restrictions apply to all vehicles 8.5-feet wide or more and/or vehicles weighing more than 40 tons. The following detour will remain in place until early 2026:

I-78 westbound Oversized Truck Detour coming from NJ Turnpike:

• All vehicles on I-78 westbound that are 8.5-feet wide or more and/or vehicles weighing more than 40 tons on both the Express Lanes and Local Lanes will be directed to take Exit 48 to Route 24 westbound
• Follow Route 24 westbound to I-287 southbound
• Take Exit 21B to I-78 westbound

I-78 westbound Oversized Truck Detour between Exits 45 and 33:

• Oversized vehicles on local roads looking to get on I-78 westbound between Exit 45/Glenside Avenue and Exit 33/Martinsville Road will be directed to take I-78 eastbound
• Stay right to take I-78 eastbound Local Lanes
• Stay left to take Exit 48 to Route 24 westbound
• Follow Route 24 westbound to I-287 southbound
• Take Exit 21B to I-78 westbound

Oversized vehicles that get on I-78 westbound between Exit 45/Glenside Avenue and Exit 36/King George Road will be directed to take Exit 33 and do a U-turn to take I-78 eastbound to Route 24 westbound.

The oversized vehicle restrictions are necessary because of the current I-78 westbound traffic configuration in the project work zone, which starts near the Scenic Overlook (which is closed) through Exit 29/I-287, said NJDOT.

The left two lanes are shifted onto a temporary bridge in the median over Washington Valley Road, and a single right lane cattle chute is being maintained on the mainline to create a work zone to demolish and reconstruct the right side of the bridge. All lanes are through lanes.

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 guiderail 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.