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Drivers Brace For Major Traffic Headaches On And Around The GWB

FORT LEE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Road work projects underway on parts of the George Washington Bridge and Route 4 in New Jersey mean that drivers will have to brace themselves for a different type of commute.

On Friday night road crews shut down Route 4 East. It will remain closed on Saturday. That closure will be followed by a major shut down on the George Washington Bridge.

The projects are a major downfall of the summer driving season, when construction crews can be found setting up on the side of the road preparing to shut down major thoroughfares, CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reported.

The closures are a headache that drivers will have no choice but to deal with.

"It's absolutely a pain, but if they're making the roads better for us drivers and making them more safe, I guess it's something us drivers have to deal with," James Hill said.

The eastbound lanes of Route 4 were to be completely shut down east of Grand Avenue overnight on Friday and Saturday. The road is a major approach to the George Washington Bridge, and the Department of Transportation was urging travelers to make other plans for trips into the city.

"It's horrible. I'll probably have to find a different route to head back to New York, which is going to cost me a lot more in gas," Yonkers resident Paul Gamalinda said. "I guess they need to get this thing done right away."

When the Route 4 shutdown comes to an end drivers will have to deal with headaches on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge.

Starting Aug. 5 at 11 p.m. three lanes on the upper level of the bridge will be shut down every weeknight for six weeks.

"They should do it," Amba Sharma said. "Fix the roads. Small inconvenience we'll live by that, rather have the roads ready when the time comes."

Drivers have no choice except to prepare to put up with the projects.

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