Fort Lee gears up for reconstruction of major bridge
FORT LEE – The state Department of Transportation is working to get the word out about a $4.3 million bridge project that will enter accelerated construction in July.
The bridge over Jones Road from Route 1 & 9 and Route 46 draws about 25,000 vehicles each way per weekend day, said Stephen Schapiro, DOT director of communications.
Yet traffic would be even greater during the week due to the structure’s proximity to the George Washington Bridge. That’s why the bridge over Jones Road will see accelerated work on a new deck with the greatest traffic impact limited to two weekends in July.
Residents poured over maps of detours and asked individual questions of DOT officials on Thursday during an information session at Fort Lee High School.
Peter Bailis lives on Summit Avenue, a little over a block from the work zone yet he’s glad to see the 1930s bridge with a structurally deficient deck get needed repairs.
“The infrastructure in general in the United States needs to be repaired,” he said. “What’s worse, traffic or having a bridge fall and people getting hurt?”
A retired Port Authority worker who often found himself at the George Washington Bridge, Bailis also appreciates that construction work like this mean jobs.
Also at the meeting, Lt. Ricky Mirkovic, supervisor of the Fort Lee Police Department Traffic Bureau, said that the activity set tentatively for the weekends of July 7 and July 28 will be manageable if drivers heed the detours.
“I think with the detours we have in place, if everyone uses them, we’ll be OK,” said Mirkovic. “It’s not going to be smooth sailing. It’s a major artery to the George Washington Bridge, the busiest bridge in the world,” he said.
Construction activity on both weekends is expected to start at 10 p.m. on Friday and continue through 5 a.m. on Monday, said Samer Shahwan, resident engineer for the DOT.
Because weather could change the schedule, Lt. Mirkovic is advising residents to look for updates on the municipal website.
One weekend the north side of the bridge deck will be done, and the other weekend work will encompass the south side.
“NJDOT has been working closely with local officials on the timing of this project to minimize disruptions to the community and motorists as best as possible,” said Schapiro.
Superintendent of Schools Ken Rota is particularly happy that the construction is waiting for summer recess, since School 2 is on Jones Road close to the bridge.
“We were relieved by that,” he said. “It would have hindered our access to the building.” As it is no summer programs are impacted.
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Jones Road is expected to be closed for two and a half months from Walnut Street to the driveway of the school.
Lt. Mirkovic said that detours will take traffic from Fort Lee into Leonia to the other side of Jones Road.
There will also be detours for traffic on Route 1 & 9 and Route 46 when necessary.
He recommended that drivers take the detours rather than deal with heavy traffic when the bridge drops down to one lane in each direction.
Prep work for the bridge construction began in April and the entire project is expected to be substantially complete by November.