NJ DOT will try again to close Route 3 bridge over Hackensack River on Sunday

The New Jersey Department of Transportation will try again to close the eastbound Route 3 bridge over the Hackensack River on Sunday in order to complete repairs on cracked steel plates.

Work trucks block the right lane of the Route 3 bridge eastbound that leads to the Lincoln Tunnel (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

A full closure was planned last weekend but postponed the work due to high winds. This weekend's work will take place from 11:30 p.m. Saturday night through 11:30 p.m. Sunday night between Route 120 in East Rutherford and Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus.

The DOT will be keeping an eye on the forecast again, however, as Meteorologist Dan Zarrow is calling for rain during most of the scheduled closure time except for a period of freezing rain on Sunday morning.

The closure could also affect those attending the Chris Brown/Trey Lorenz concert at the Izod Center which begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.

DOT spokesman Stephen Schapiro said barges will be positioned during the week below the bridge with 135-foot lifts that will be used as part of a hoist system that will lower 3 new steel plates into position.

New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams is glad to see the work on the bridge being completed. "The delays have started at Route 21 approaching the bridge and drivers are looking forward to having all the lanes available again."

Emergency vehicles will be able to cross the bridge, one of the busiest in the state, if needed.

New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox ordered the bridge's right lane closed immediately after test results showed cracks had developed in the steel of two sections of a long steel beam that supports the bridge’s main span. The project was initially supposed to take two weeks to complete but snow slowed completion of the project

The DOT will have the following signed detours in place:

Route 3 eastbound
Traffic heading east on Route 3 will be directed to the exit for Route 120 North/East Rutherford/Arena past the Hilton Hotel (formerly the Sheraton) to Route 3 West to Route 17 North. Motorists will then be directed to the Polifly Road/I-80 East exit. Traffic will go a few blocks and turn right to access I-80 East. Motorists will continue on I-80 East to I-95 South to Route 46 East to Route 93 South to Route 1&9 South.

Motorists may stay on the I-95/NJ Turnpike South Eastern Spur, which is a toll road, if they choose to.

Motorists also may use an alternate detour utilizing Route 21 to Route 20 to I-80.

NJ Turnpike northbound

Traffic on the NJ Turnpike northbound is advised to use the Eastern Spur of the Turnpike where it divides at the Southern Mixing Bowl at Exit 14. As motorists pass the airport, follow signs for the Lincoln Tunnel/Exits 15E – 15X – 16E – 18E.

NJ Turnpike southbound

Traffic on the NJ Turnpike southbound is advised to use the Eastern Spur of the Turnpike where it divides by following signs for the Lincoln Tunnel/Exit 17.