Bayonne Bridge to close Thursday, Friday

The Bayonne Bridge "Raise the Roadway" project will get back on track with daytime closures scheduled for Thursday and Friday,

Daytime full closures of the Port Authority-owned bridge connecting New Jersey to Staten Island were delayed by the snowfall earlier this week. With no major weather events in the forecast, closures will begin Wednesday night at 9 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. on Thursday morning in both directions.The bridge will close again on Thursday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a rare full daytime closure.

Port Authority spokesman Chris Valens said the closure is necessary to lift 100-ton approach piers into place. In the interest of safety "we are not going to do the work with live traffic present," explained Valens, who said there will be additional daytime closures on Monday and Tuesday as well.

In addition, the bridge will be closed from late Friday night until approximately midnight Saturday night into Sunday morning.

New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Willams says the best alternative is the Goethals Bridge.

The Navigational Clearance Project is a $1.3 billion effort that will raise the roadway of the bridge from 151 feet to 215 feet above the water to allow larger ships to access Port Newark, Elizabeth and Staten Island's Howland Hook Wider lanes, shoulders and median dividers along with a bikeway and walkway will be added to the 83-year-old bridge.

The project should be complete by the fall.