I-80 westbound lane closures planned in Mount Arlington for bridge traffic shift

MOUNT ARLINGTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — Lane closures are scheduled overnight Friday on Interstate 80 westbound in Mount Arlington as crews shift traffic onto a newly constructed bridge as part of the Howard Boulevard bridge replacement project, transportation officials said.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, MAy 15 and continue until 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16 between the bridge over Howard Boulevard and an area near milepost 32.

Officials said the work will begin with a single-lane closure before a second lane is closed around 11 p.m. Construction activity is expected to move from the right lane toward the left side of the highway as the project progresses.

At least one travel lane will remain open overnight, NJDOT said.

The closures are needed so crews can install construction barriers and restripe the roadway to implement a new traffic pattern.

By Saturday morning, three westbound lanes will reopen and be shifted onto the newly built bridge over Howard Boulevard.

The new traffic configuration will allow crews to create a median work zone and remove the temporary roadway currently in use. Officials said the traffic pattern is expected to remain in place until summer 2027, when final paving, striping and landscaping work are scheduled.

The $65.4 million federally funded project includes replacement of the Interstate 80 eastbound and westbound bridges over Howard Boulevard, which officials said had fallen into poor condition.

Additional improvements include raising bridge clearances, widening shoulders, extending acceleration and deceleration lanes, widening ramps connected to Howard Boulevard and reconfiguring the Howard Boulevard intersection to improve traffic flow.

The project also includes upgraded traffic signals and lighting, along with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks. Sidewalks will also be extended to the Mount Arlington Train Station to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, officials said.

Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2027.

NJDOT said the timing of the work could change because of weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check 511nj.org for updates and traffic information.