I-78 LANE CLOSURES TO TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY IN VICINITY OF STILL VALLEY INTERCHANGE IN NEW JERSEY
Daytime and Rush-Hour Traffic Being Reduced to Two Lanes to Allow for Paving Over Next Two Weeks

Contact: Joe Donnelly or Pete Peterson
267-790-1010 or 215-893-4297

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission today announced traffic on I-78 will be restricted to a maximum two lanes of travel in both directions over the next two weeks in the vicinity of the Still Valley Interchange (Exit 3) in New Jersey.

The lane restrictions will occur within a roughly three-quarter mile stretch and is expected to end on or about October 17. The paring down of I-78 from three lanes to two lanes in each direction during daytime and rush-hour periods is necessary to ensure the maximum safety of motorists and work crews while the surface of roadway in that section is repaved.

This period of lane reduction is subject to change due to weather or other unanticipated construction, emergency or traffic-related considerations.

The paving work is one of the last major elements of roadway reconstruction to take place in the Still Valley Interchange area as part of the Commission's ongoing rehabilitation of 4.75 miles of I-78 in New Jersey. The project's primary focus is to fix cracking and settlement of the roadway due to heavy truck traffic along the I-78 corridor leading to the Commission's I-78 Toll Bridge, which carries traffic over the Delaware River between Northampton County, Pennsylvania and Warren County, New Jersey.

As has been the case for roughly a year now, I-78 eastbound and westbound traffic may continue to be limited to a single lane in each direction during overnight, off-peak hours - roughly 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling on I-78 during the ongoing rehabilitation project. Motorists also are reminded that the speed limit on I-78 in the construction zone -- stretching from Interchange #3 to just east of the I-78 bridge toll plaza in Pennsylvania -- has been reduced from 65 mph to 50 mph for the safety of drivers and construction crews. The New Jersey and Pennsylvania State Police are enforcing the posted speed limit and fines will be doubled for violations within the work zone.

The I-78 rehabilitation project is part of the Commission's capital improvement program for system preservation, management, security and enhancement. Rehabilitation of an additional 2.25 miles of I-78 within the Commission's jurisdiction on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River will take place under a separate project that will include the implementation of open road tolling lanes.

The Commission's I-78 jurisdiction extends approximately 2.2 miles west at the Pennsylvania approach, including an interchange at Morgan Hill Road, with grade separation structures at Cedarville Road and Route 611. In New Jersey, the jurisdiction extends approximately 4.7 miles to the east from the main river bridge, including grade separation bridges at Carpentersville Road, County Route 519 and Edge Road.

About the Commission

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission was formed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey in 1934. It operates seven toll bridges and 13 toll-supported bridges, two of which are pedestrian-only spans. The Commission's jurisdiction extends along the Delaware River from the Philadelphia-Bucks County line north to the New Jersey/New York border. Its bridges carried more than 141 million cars and trucks in 2007. For more information about the Commission and its various initiatives to deliver safer and more convenient bridge travel for its customers, please see: www.drjtbc.org.

"Preserving Our Past, Enhancing Our Future"