Route 15 southbound lane to close Friday night for bridge traffic shift in Jefferson
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — One lane on Route 15 southbound will be closed Friday night as crews shift traffic onto the newly constructed portion of the Route 15 Bridge over the Rockaway River, part of an ongoing project to replace the 124-year-old structure in Morris County, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced.
The lane closure will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and is expected to remain in place until 5 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, while construction barriers are repositioned to allow traffic to move onto the right side of the new bridge.
By 5 a.m. Saturday, traffic on Route 15 southbound will shift to the right, reopening two 11-foot lanes. The left side of the bridge will close to allow for sidewalk construction and demolition of approach slabs from the original structure. NJDOT said this configuration will remain in place through the end of the year.
If work is completed ahead of schedule, the traffic shift and all lanes may reopen sooner.
The $11.6 million project will replace the existing bridge with a single-span concrete box beam structure that includes two 12-foot lanes, 10-foot shoulders, and sidewalks on both sides. The improvements aim to enhance roadway geometry and sight distance, with construction proceeding in stages to minimize disruption.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
NJDOT advised motorists to stay alert and check 511nj.org for real-time traffic updates. Work schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors.
