Right lane of I-78 westbound to close for one week for bridge deck work in Somerset County
SOMERSET COUNTY, N.J. – The right lane of Interstate 78 westbound will be closed for about a week beginning Monday, Oct. 20, as bridge deck replacement work advances on the I-78 westbound bridges over Washington Valley Road and Routes 202/206 in Bedminster and Bridgewater, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced.
The closure, which will stretch from milepost 34.2 — just after the on-ramp from Martinsville Road/Exit 33 — to milepost 31.0, just past the bridge over Routes 202/206, is expected to remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27. The shutdown will allow crews to pour and cure new concrete bridge decks over Washington Valley Road.
Motorists are advised to use caution, reduce speed, and expect possible delays in the work zone. During the closure, all traffic will use the two left lanes and temporary bridges spanning Washington Valley Road and Routes 202/206. Exit 29 to Interstate 287 will remain open.
A detour for oversized trucks that began in May will also remain in effect. The restrictions apply to vehicles 8.5 feet wide or wider and/or those weighing more than 40 tons. Trucks traveling westbound on I-78 from the New Jersey Turnpike must take Exit 48 to Route 24 westbound, continue to I-287 southbound, and then re-enter I-78 westbound via Exit 21B.
The same detour applies to oversized vehicles entering I-78 westbound between Exits 45 (Glenside Avenue) and 33 (Martinsville Road). Trucks that enter between Exits 45 and 36 (King George Road) must use Exit 33 to U-turn and access I-78 eastbound to Route 24 westbound.
The ongoing $67 million federally funded project will replace deteriorating bridge decks carrying I-78 over both Routes 202/206 and Washington Valley Road. Work includes updated guiderails, new approach slabs, and resurfacing throughout the project limits. Construction began with the eastbound bridges and is scheduled for completion in late spring 2026.
Variable message signs will alert drivers to traffic pattern changes, and the schedule may shift depending on weather or other factors. Motorists can check www.511nj.org for real-time traffic updates and construction information.
