Weldon Road Bridge over Route 15 replacement project begins next week in Jefferson Township
Overnight lane closures needed to install barriers and shielding
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials Thursday announced the Weldon Road Bridge over Route 15 replacement project is scheduled to begin next week in Jefferson Township.
Beginning at 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 18, until 6:00 a.m. the next day, and continuing Monday through Friday nights, NJDOT’s contractor, Berto Construction, is scheduled to close one lane on Route 15 northbound to install shielding under the Weldon Road Bridge over Route 15. One lane will be maintained at all times.
In a few weeks, the demolition of the southern half of the bridge is expected to begin. At that time the ramp from Weldon Road onto Route 15 northbound will be closed and detoured. NJDOT will provide advance notice before the ramp is closed.
The Weldon Road Bridge over Route 15 was closed in December 2020 because of cracks in two beams. At the time, Route 15 southbound was closed as well. The left lane reopened a few days later with the right lane remaining closed. The damaged portion of the bridge was removed and beams were repaired, allowing the bridge and all lanes and ramps on Route 15 to reopen in March 2021. The bridge reopened with one lane available in each direction. Normally the bridge carries two lanes in each direction.
Since the bridge reopened, NJDOT has been monitoring the structure to ensure it remains safe and the Department expedited the design of a long-term replacement project, which is beginning now. In addition,
advanced utility relocation has been completed.
The $7.6 million project will replace the Weldon Road Bridge over Route 15. The new bridge will restore two lanes of traffic in each direction and improve the vertical clearance under the bridge. The project will advance in stages with the south side of the bridge being demolished and reconstructed first. Once that stage is completed, traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed south side of the bridge to allow the north side of the bridge to be reconstructed. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on the bridge. NJDOT will provide advance notice of any lane or ramp closures. The project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2024.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are
encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website for real-time travel information.
