Major Route 80 Construction Project To Take 10 Years

TOTOWA, NJ — Transportation officials are planning for a lengthy project on Route 80, stretching across two counties, that would widen part of the highway and replace multiple bridges.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, this project would also include repairing deteriorated pavement and resurfacing 28 ramps across a 9.4-mile stretch of I-80 westbound in Passaic and Bergen Counties.

The project is still in the engineering stage, with officials estimating that construction would begin by the end of 2027 and last until 2037.

Reconstruction would begin at Riverview Drive (C.R. 640) in Totowa, and end at Polifly Road (C.R. 55) in Hackensack with the goal of enhancing safety, relieving traffic congestion, and replacing structures that are in poor condition.

Officials said that crash rates along this stretch of the interstate exceed statewide averages, and there are also more wet weather crashes in the area. And, traffic gets bottlenecked in Paterson where traffic is reduced from four lanes to three.

The work area would include the Passaic County municipalities of Totowa, Woodland Park, and Paterson and the Bergen County communities of Elmwood Park, Saddle Brook, Rochelle Park, Lodi and Hackensack. Officials are looking to maintain the existing number travel lanes while the construction is going on; some lanes and ramps may shift or close temporarily on evenings or weekends.

Residents who live, work, and commute in this area are encouraged to submit feedback on the project to rt80wbpic@gmail.com by April 19, or fill out a comment form online.

According to NJDOT, the proposed improvements would include:

• Repairing, resurfacing, or reconstructing pavement.
• Widening 1.6 miles of westbound Rt 80 through Paterson from three lanes to four lanes.
• Replacing eight bridges, 11 bridge superstructures, and five bridge decks.
• Reconstructing or resurfacing 28 ramps.
• Improving drainage, intersections, shoulders, cross slopes, and auxiliary lanes.
• Installing noise barriers in certain areas.

Click here to read more on the NJDOT project website, or watch a video presentation of the plan.