Route 23 southbound ramp to Hamburg Turnpike to close Thursday for bridge demolition

The southbound ramp from Route 23 to Hamburg Turnpike will be closed and detoured during the day Thursday as work continues on a bridge replacement project spanning Passaic and Morris counties, state transportation officials said.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation said the ramp to Hamburg Turnpike, also known as County Route 694, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12 to allow crews to demolish a bridge pier from the old Route 23 bridge over the Pequannock River.

The closure is part of the ongoing $78.2 million Route 23 bridge replacement project, which runs between mileposts 16.6 and 17.2 along the border of West Milford in Passaic County and Kinnelon in Morris County.

Traffic on Route 23 itself will not be affected, but drivers who normally take the southbound ramp to Hamburg Turnpike will be directed to follow a detour.

Under the detour, motorists traveling south on Route 23 toward Hamburg Turnpike, High Crest Road or Bloomingdale will be directed to continue south and take the ramp to Kinnelon/Butler. Drivers will then turn left onto Kinnelon Road (County Route 618), which becomes Kiel Avenue, turn left onto Park Place, and then turn right onto Main Street, which becomes Hamburg Turnpike.

Officials advised motorists to slow down, use caution and expect minor delays while traveling through the work zone.

The broader project will replace the Route 23 bridge over the Pequannock River, Hamburg Turnpike and nearby railroad tracks. The work also includes drainage and utility improvements.

The project is expected to be completed in fall 2028, according to NJDOT.

Transportation officials noted that the schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists can check 511nj.org for construction updates and real-time traffic information.