Update from Jefferson Township Mayor About Route 15 Closure, June 17

JEFFERSON, NJ – The Acting New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor was in Jefferson on Monday to see the Route 15 bridge operations for himself, according to Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen.

Wilsusen said the commissioner’s tour included the ongoing bridge construction as well as the detour/diversion route to give him a full picture of what area residents are dealing with.

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“I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the temporary bridge's construction pace,” Wilsusen said.

He reports the north foundation was poured over the weekend.  This will need five days to cure.  The south foundation is to be poured on Tuesday.

Sections of the temporary bridge are expected to be delivered by the end of the week, Wilsusen said.  O’Connor “reassured” the tour group they are “all working toward opening the temporary bridge as soon as possible and were on schedule and even slightly ahead.”

Over the weekend access to Route 15 south businesses were improved with the opening of a lane on Route 15 south to Taylor Road, according to Wilsusen.  He said he has concerns that drivers who are not from the area may be confused because all of the cones were removed at Edison Road.

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“If you go that way, please be careful,” Wilsusen said, adding they will continue to work with DOT to make improvements.

Backups on Espanong and Minnisink Roads continue to be a problem because the roads are not equipped to handle the volume of traffic being detoured onto those roads.  New Jersey State Police Officers working to move drivers through, even overriding the temporary lights installed last week, still cannot alleviate the choke points at those roads, Wilsusen said. The backups can take 40 minutes to an hour to get through.

Jefferson Police are patrolling secondary roads and neighborhoods that commuters are using to get through the detour areas.  They are evaluating options including signage, Wilsusen said.

Route 15 north and south will be closed through Monday night for paving and line striping at Berkshire Valley Road.  All lanes and ramps are expected to be reopened by 6 p.m.

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