Route 23 lane closures this weekend for temporary bridge shift in West Milford and Kinnelon

Route 23 is scheduled to have lane closures in both directions this weekend as crews shift southbound traffic onto a temporary bridge as part of the Route 23 Bridge over Pequannock River/Hamburg Turnpike replacement project, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

Beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, through 12 noon Sunday, Oct. 26, a single lane on Route 23 southbound and northbound will be closed for restriping and barrier repositioning. The closures are needed to move southbound traffic onto the temporary bridge. The exit ramp to Hamburg Turnpike/County Route 694 will remain open during the work, NJDOT said.

By noon Sunday, both lanes of Route 23 southbound will be shifted to the right onto the new temporary bridge spanning the ramp to Hamburg Turnpike, railroad tracks, and the Pequannock River. All northbound lanes will then reopen. If work finishes early, all lanes will reopen sooner, officials said.

This new configuration is expected to remain in place until fall 2028, when the full bridge replacement project is scheduled for completion. In November, NJDOT plans to shift Route 23 northbound lanes onto another temporary bridge. The department said it will provide advance notice before that traffic change occurs.

The traffic shifts are required to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of the Route 23 Bridge over the Pequannock River and Hamburg Turnpike.

The $78.2 million federally funded project, located between mileposts 16.6 and 17.2 on the border of West Milford, Passaic County, and Butler and Kinnelon, Morris County, also includes drainage and utility improvements.

Motorists are advised to slow down, use caution, and expect delays when traveling through the work zones. The timing of work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

For real-time traffic updates, motorists can visit www.511nj.org.