George Washington Bridge Upper Level Lanes Facing 12-Week Shutdown

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Motorists are urged to use the lower level of the George Washington Bridge during overnight hours due to construction.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the three upper-level lanes of the bridge will be closed for repairs during overnight hours for 12 weeks starting Monday night.

The lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday into Saturday. Work will shift between the eastbound and westbound directions throughout the duration of the construction.

Many drivers aren't happy about the closures.

"At 3, 4 in the morning, you could get into an hour to get to the bridge once it all backs up because the lanes are closed," a limo driver named David told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria.

"You're going to have to leave a lot earlier to do your route," said a truck driver named Jeremy.

Others are worried drivers will seek local shortcuts through Fort Lee.

"Just like when they had that whole 'bridgegate' thing, it was bottle necked and no one could get through," one woman told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "The kids couldn't get to school, so that's typically what happens in Fort Lee."

There will be no lane closings on Saturday or Sunday nights. On the days of Yankee games or events at Metlife Stadium in the Meadowlands, lanes will not be closed until one hour after the event's conclusion.

Among other repairs, crews are replacing portions of the steel deck and resurfacing the road.

For more information, click here.

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