New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the full closure of the Pulaski Skyway in both directions this weekend for rocker bent work and to pour the deck on the Kearny ramp as the rehabilitation of the historic 88-year-old bridge advances.
To avoid delays, NJDOT is encouraging motorists to use the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations, including the Holland Tunnel, I-78, or to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 Truck southbound. All other motorists will be directed to Route 1&9 Truck in both directions.
Beginning at 3 a.m. Saturday, October 17 until 6 a.m. Sunday, October 18, NJDOT’s contractor, Cornell & Company Inc., is scheduled to close and detour the Pulaski Skyway in both directions to jack the Skyway to place temporary supports for rocker bearing work west of Raymond Boulevard in Newark. In addition, NJDOT’s contractor, Ferreira/Tutor Perini Joint Venture, is scheduled to pour the new concrete deck on the Kearny ramp. If work is completed early, the Skyway will reopen sooner.
Northbound Closure and Detour
The northbound closure will begin past Newark Liberty International Airport with the Route 1&9 Express Lanes being closed at 3 a.m. Saturday with all traffic directed onto the Local Lanes. Traffic will follow Route 1&9 Truck northbound to the intersection of Route 7, Route 139, and Route 1&9 in Jersey City.
Northbound motorists heading to Hoboken, Jersey City or New York City also may use the New Jersey Turnpike-Hudson County Extension.
Southbound Closure and Detour
The southbound closure will begin at 3 a.m. south of the Tonnele Circle, with the ramp from the Tonnele Circle to the Skyway closed. Traffic coming from Route 139 will be directed to the off ramp to I-280/Route 7 and Route 1&9 southbound.
Traffic on Route 1&9 south heading toward Tonnele Circle is encouraged to stay right and use the ramp to Route 1&9 Truck.
Southbound Detour (toward Newark):
Leaving the Holland Tunnel, motorists will have the following options:
- Stay to the far right and take the NJ Turnpike-Hudson County Extension to all destinations west and south, including I-78 – This is the recommended option.
- Stay to the left and follow signs for Route 139 West, then stay left to Route 1&9 Truck southbound towards Newark, Route 7 and I-280.
Local Traffic for Jersey City:
- Stay to the middle to take Route 139 Upper Roadway and follow signs to Kennedy Boulevard/Jersey City, to best access many local Jersey City locations and other points north (Secaucus).
The rocker bearing work is part of Contract 8A and the Kearny ramp work is part of Contract 5 of the Pulaski Skyway rehabilitation project, which is being advanced through 11 separate construction contracts. The Department is carefully coordinating the Pulaski Skyway project with other regional transportation infrastructure projects to minimize traffic congestion.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.