Traffic Changes Coming For I-280 In Newark; $31.7M Road Construction Project Moves Forward

NEWARK, NJ — A major road construction project continues to move forward on I-280 in Essex County, with a lane closure scheduled for Friday and a new traffic pattern beginning on Saturday evening.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the $31.7 million federally funded project will replace the I-280 westbound bridge decks on the 10-span viaduct that goes over the NJ Transit tracks, Orange Street and 1st Street in Newark.

The project includes substructure repairs, replacing bearings, repairing structural steel, and repainting portions of the bridge. In addition, the existing retaining wall on the ramp from 1st Street to I-280 westbound will be replaced to allow for three through lanes on I-280 westbound beyond the bridge. Two new overhead sign structures also will be installed over I-280.

The project was designed to advance in stages to minimize the impact on motorists. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, NJDOT officials said.

Here are two upcoming traffic changes to know about, the NJDOT said (the precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors):

LANE CLOSURE

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, the right lane on I-280 westbound between Exit 14 until just past Exit 13 is scheduled to be closed. The left lane and Exit 14 will remain open.

Exit 13 will be closed and detoured temporarily at some point during this time frame while construction barrier is repositioned, NJDOT officials noted.

The closures are necessary to reposition construction barrier and restripe the roadway to implement a traffic shift, officials said.

The following detour for Exit 13 will be in place:

• Traffic on I-280 westbound wishing to take Exit 13/Orange Street will be directed to continue on I-280 westbound
• Stay right to take Exit 12A/B
• Stay in the right lane to take Exit 12A/Clinton Street/East Orange
• Continue on the ramp and go straight through the traffic signal at South Walnut Street
• Turn left onto South Burnet Street
• Turn left onto Freeway Drive East
• Stay left to take the ramp onto I-280 eastbound
• Stay left for Exit 13
• At the traffic signal at First Street, turn left to go to Orange Street, which is at the next traffic signal

Traffic will also be encouraged to use Exit 14 prior to the construction zone to use Clifton Avenue to access Orange Street and local Newark streets, NJDOT officials said.

NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN

By 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, I-280 westbound traffic will be split with a single 12-foot lane to the left, a center work zone with construction barrier on either side, and a single 12-foot lane to the right, according to the NJDOT.

Traffic using Exit 13 will need to stay in the right lane.

The new traffic pattern will allow for the demolition and reconstruction of the center portion of the bridge, and is expected to be in place through the end of the year, officials said.

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