Route 46 lane closures begin in Knowlton for $21.5M bridge replacement project
KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — A $21.5 million project to replace the Route 46 Bridge over the Paulins Kill in Warren County will begin Friday night, with lane closures scheduled as construction gets underway.
According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, a single lane in both directions on Route 46 will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, until 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, between Route 94 (milepost 0.6) and milepost 0.8 where Route 46 westbound becomes two lanes after Walnut Road. At least one lane will remain open in each direction, and the exit ramp to I-80 eastbound and Route 94 northbound/New York City/Blairstown will stay accessible.
By 11 a.m. Saturday, traffic will be shifted to the right shoulder in both directions to create a center work zone for the removal of the concrete median. The configuration will remain in place for several weeks, though NJDOT said the shift could occur earlier if work is completed ahead of schedule.
A stop sign will also be installed at the end of the on-ramps from Washington Street and Route 94 northbound onto Route 46 eastbound. Motorists are urged to slow down and use caution in the work zone.
The project will replace the aging Route 46 Bridge, which NJDOT said is in poor condition. Construction will be completed in stages, with one side of the bridge built at a time, and one lane of traffic maintained in each direction throughout.
The new bridge will feature two 12-foot lanes in each direction, 10-foot shoulders, a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side, and a 10-foot shared-use path on the north side. Plans also include new approach slabs, upgraded guide rails, and improved end treatments.
The project is expected to be completed in spring 2028.
Motorists can check real-time travel updates at 511nj.org.
