Overnight I-80 lane closures begin for safety, traffic technology project in North Jersey
NORTH JERSEY — Overnight lane closures on Interstate 80 in Morris, Essex and Passaic counties are set to begin Monday night as part of a $6 million Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) project, state transportation officials said.
Starting at 8 p.m. Monday, April 6, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, and continuing nightly through Friday, April 10, the right lane on I-80 eastbound and westbound will be closed at five locations, one each night. The work will take place between milepost 36.7 in Rockaway, Morris County, and milepost 54.8 in Totowa, Passaic County.
The closures are needed to install construction barriers and implement long-term right shoulder closures. Officials said at least three lanes will remain open overnight.
Each morning by 6 a.m., the right lane will reopen, but the right shoulder will stay closed for several months. The shoulder closures are required for overhead sign installations at four locations and an upgrade at another site. Those closures are expected to remain in place through late summer 2026.
The project will span 18.2 miles of I-80 and includes installing conduit and wrong-way detection systems at multiple ramps within the corridor. The work is expected to be completed in spring 2027.
Drivers are urged to slow down, use caution and expect delays when traveling through the work zone. Portable message signs are being used to alert motorists to changing traffic patterns.
Officials noted that schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors. Real-time traffic updates are available at 511nj.org.
