TRENTON, N.J. - Construction crews expect to have a new traffic pattern substantially in place Friday along Route 1 southbound on the New Jersey side of the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.

The new traffic pattern originally had been scheduled to take effect a week ago, but the work was postponed due to unanticipated construction considerations.

Beginning Friday, a new split-lane traffic configuration will be established as concrete barriers are put in place to create an island work zone for the next phase of construction on the multi-faceted, $102 million Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge rehabilitation and widening project. The split traffic pattern in the southbound direction will stretch roughly from South Broad Street to the toll bridge.

Concurrent with the southbound traffic pattern change, work crews are removing the series of highway barriers that were used to create the split-lane traffic configuration that has been in place in the northbound direction since early August.

Work on the new traffic patterns is scheduled to begin tonight with removal of concrete barriers along Route 1 north. The barriers will then be put into place along the southbound roadway during off-peak, overnight hours Thursday, October 23 into Friday, October 24.

Motorists are advised to be alert for slow-moving traffic and sudden stoppages in both directions during overnight hours for the next several days.

Once in place, the new southbound split-lane configuration will remain in effect through November. Southbound motorists approaching the work area in Trenton are advised to travel at the posted work zone speed limit of 35 mph and remain alert for sudden slowing as vehicles approach and travel through the realigned split southbound lanes.

Both southbound travel lanes will be 10.5 feet wide and will be separated by barriers, resulting in a protected boat-shaped work zone between the two realigned lanes where crews can proceed to remove the next section of old highway pavement for rehabilitation and installation of a new road surface.

The realignment will not result in a reduction of travel lanes, and all southbound off- and on-ramps will remain open. However, southbound motorists exiting at the Capitol Complex/Warren Street exit in Trenton (Last Exit in New Jersey) are advised to use the right-hand lane of the work zone.

The lane changes are the latest Stage 2 construction element to be undertaken at the toll bridge and its approach roadways and ramps. The three-year project will improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, speed toll plaza operations and mitigate noise impacts to nearby communities. Plans also include adding a northbound auxiliary lane.

More information about the project is available at the project Web site: http://www.tmtollbridgerehab.com. A graphic of the new southbound traffic pattern will be added to the Web site by the time the barrier-moving work begins next week.

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.