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Guide To Navigating Northbound Pulaski Skyway Shutdown

Pulaski Skyway as seen from Chopper 880
Pulaski Skyway as seen from Chopper 880. The northbound lanes of the span will be closed for a 2-year bridge deck replacement project. (credit: Tom Kaminski/WCBS 880) CLICK to enlarge

The northbound Pulaski Skyway will be closed for a two-year bridge deck rehabilitation project. As a result, about 40,000 drivers will need to be accommodated by alternate travel options each day, including 9,600 during the morning rush hour. The southbound lanes of the 3.5-mile span will remain open throughout the duration of the $1 billion project. The rehab project is anticipated to give the 80-year-old bridge another 75 years of life, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. GPS will not help follow the detours so NJDOT will use electronic signs and social media to help redirect drivers. Here's what you need to know to navigate around the roadway closures.

Pulaski Skyway planned detour
Pulaski Skyway planned detour (Courtesy NJDOT)

 

NJDOT SOCIAL MEDIA/ONLINE TRAVEL RESOURCES

Skyway Rehab Twitter | Pulaski Skyway Travel Times | Pulaski Skyway Maps | Traffic & Transit

 

ALTERNATE ROUTES

New Jersey Turnpike The New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension (I-78) eastbound shoulder will be converted into a third travel lane during the morning and evening rush hours. The additional travel lane on the Turnpike Extension will enable that route to accommodate about 4,500 additional vehicles per morning peak period. The third lane also will be available to motorists during evening commute hours.

New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension as seen from Chopper 880
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension as seen from Chopper 880 (credit: Tom Kaminski/WCBS 880) CLICK to enlarge
Pulaski Skyway planned detour
Pulaski Skyway planned detour (Courtesy NJDOT)

The New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur is expected to handle an additional 1,500 vehicles during the morning rush. Route 1&9 Truck Lanes Adaptive traffic signal control technology and entrance ramp improvements will help accommodate additional traffic heading toward Jersey City and New York City. Route 1&9 T will be able to accommodate nearly 1,700 additional vehicles per morning peak period.

Route 1&9 Truck Lanes as seen from Chopper 880
Route 1&9 Truck Lanes as seen from Chopper 880 (credit: Tom Kaminski/WCBS 880) CLICK to enlarge
Pulaski Skyway planned detour
Pulaski Skyway planned detour (Courtesy NJDOT)

 

MASS TRANSIT

The NJDOT worked with NJ TRANSIT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to expand mass transit service for those impacted by the Pulaski Skyway closure.

PATH, NJ TRANSIT service enhancements due to northbound Pulaski Skyway roadway closure
PATH, NJ TRANSIT service enhancements due to northbound Pulaski Skyway roadway closure (credit: NJ DOT)

NJ TRANSIT: Service enhancements on the Morris & Essex (M&E) Lines NJ TRANSIT will add two train trips each morning and two train trips each evening on the M&E Lines between Summit and Hoboken Terminal. Two of the trains will operate during the peak periods, with the other two trains operating just outside of peak times, resulting in an additional 900 seats each morning and the same number each evening. Service enhancements on Raritan Valley Line NJ TRANSIT plans to add additional seating capacity on Raritan Valley Line trains operating to Newark Penn Station during the morning peak period (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and from Newark Penn Station during the evening (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) peak. This will add 1,260 seats during each period. Service enhancements on the North Jersey Coast Line NJ TRANSIT will add a train trip to the morning peak period schedule from Bay Head to Hoboken and a train to the evening peak period schedule from Hoboken to Bay Head, accommodating an additional 460 passengers each way. New express bus service on the Route 22 corridor NJ TRANSIT debuted a new bus line on March 3, to offer regular, peak-hour service along the Route 22 Corridor between Watchung and Newark Penn Station serving several intermediate communities via Mountain and Morris avenues. The new bus line (Number 95) operates exclusively during rush hours, providing an additional 330 seats for customers during each morning and evening commute. PATH: Increased PATH departures The Port Authority plans to increase the frequency of PATH departures from Newark Penn Station to help accommodate additional NJ TRANSIT rail and bus customers. PATH service in Hoboken will be able to accommodate additional customers for trips to Jersey City and New York City. Click here for more information.

 

RIDESHARING

New Jersey's DOT has partnered with local Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) to encourage the public and businesses to consider ridesharing options such as carpooling and vanpooling during the rehabilitation of the Pulaski Skyway lanes. Motorists who would like to carpool or vanpool should contact their TMA. The TMA will assist vanpoolers in the process of renting a van, mapping a route and receiving the available subsidies. NJDOT will provide $325-per-month subsidies to enable NJ TRANSIT to support up to ten new vanpools capable of accommodating approximately 100 commuters. To be matched for a vanpool, call 1.800.245.POOL or visit NJDOT's Ridematching website, or ridematching web sites Hudson TMA or Meadowlink/EZRide.

 

TEMPORARY DETOURS

While there are no temporary detours scheduled at the start of the project, they will be required during some aspects of the roadway construction. Drivers are advised to periodically check the NJ DOT website for any temporary detours. For further information on the Pulaski Skyway project, visit 511NJ.

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