Rebuilt bridge to the Lincoln Tunnel, predicted to snarl traffic, is close to completion - NJ.com

samasamp.blogspot.com

Roughly two years ago, drivers and bus commuters braced for predicted massive traffic delays as the state Department of Transportation embarked on a complex project to replace a network of bridges on a highway to and from the Lincoln Tunnel.

State officials sounded similar dire warnings in August 2018 about a $90 million project to replace bridge decks on a Route 495 viaduct that is a key route to the Lincoln Tunnel. Even Gov. Phil Murphy joined the chorus and urged New Jerseyans to take commuter buses and ferries, or drive alternate routes — just do anything but use Route 495.

The traffic nightmare never happened as commuters heeded the advice and the project soldiered on through 2019. State DOT officials said it is now on track for a 2021 reopening of all lanes, but the bottom line cost has risen slightly.

“The Route 495 project is progressing on schedule. The deck replacement is expected to be completed and all lanes are expected to be reopened early in 2021,” said Stephen Schapiro, a DOT spokesman. “The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 because of the additional structural steel repairs.”

Similar to what happened during the $1 billion rehabilitation of the Pulaski Skyway, where badly deteriorated floor beams were found after the road surfaces were removed, crews found more deter in the Route 495 viaduct once work began, Schapiro said. That increased the bottom-line project cost by less than 5%, he said.

“The project costs have risen slightly from $90.3 million to $94.5 million because of additional steel repairs that were necessary,” Schapiro said. “This work is underneath the deck and will not affect the reopening of lanes.”

The project consists of replacing nine spans on the viaduct that carries Route 495 over Routes 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen. Technically, work started on local streets in fall 2017, before two lanes were closed on Route 495 on August 20, 2018. Expected traffic back-ups and mass migrations to other Hudson River crossings didn’t happen.

That was due to commuters following the advice DOT officials gave about using options and providing a website and email alerts dedicated to the project and travel options, he said.

Similar to what officials did on other projects, the DOT has taken advantage of lighter than usual traffic due to the coronavirus to make up some time lost to a high number rainy days this spring, Schapiro said. COVID-19 also caused some “minor challenges” getting necessary materials and work crews.

There are three stages of construction remaining until the end of the project.

The project is in its eighth stage, reconstruction of the right lanes of Route 495 west and work on the ramp from Route 495 west to Routes 1&9 south, which is scheduled to be finished this summer, Schapiro said.

The two left lanes on Route 495 westbound and the reconstruction of the ramp to Route 1 &9 southbound will be completed in stage 9.

Stage 10 will complete the middle section of the roadway and the median barrier. It includes some work on the approaches after that before completing the deck work.

Under the bridge, major steel repairs are continuing as well as the installation of a new drainage system. The last portion of the project will be painting and removing the shielding from under the bridge, Schapiro said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"close" - Google News
August 11, 2020 at 02:01AM
https://ift.tt/2DRFAHf

Rebuilt bridge to the Lincoln Tunnel, predicted to snarl traffic, is close to completion - NJ.com
"close" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QTYm3D
https://ift.tt/3d2SYUY

Bagikan Berita Ini