DELAWARE WATER GAP, PA – Motorists planning to travel I-80 westbound out of New Jersey into Pennsylvania this weekend are warned to expect heavy traffic congestion and significant delays during peak travel periods, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.
I-80 WB is scheduled to be restricted to a single travel lane (one of two lanes closed) in the area of the Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridge beginning 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, and ending 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4.
Major traffic congestion is anticipated to be likely between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday as motorists from heavily populated North Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area head to Pocono Mountain area destinations and other points west. Backups in excess of a mile and travel delays of up to an hour are possible.
The around-the-clock weekend travel restrictions are needed so work crews can replace the deteriorated concrete roadway slabs on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge. The section of roadway is immediately after the bridge where the transition begins for the widened approach to the bridge’s toll plaza area.
The work will involve demolition and removal of old concrete slabs, installation of rebar, and pouring of new high-strength concrete. When this work is completed, it will take 42 hours for the concrete sections to cure before the reconstructed roadway segment can be opened to traffic.
The full-depth concrete replacement work and weekend-long lane closures were originally scheduled to take place during the summer, but were postponed in deference to the Pocono resort destinations’ vacation season.
Motorists are advised to plan ahead if they need to use the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge for travel from New Jersey to Pennsylvania over the weekend. The Commission urges drivers to consider using alternate routes, rescheduling their trips, or allowing extra time to reach their destinations if they plan to use the affected I-80 westbound segment this weekend.
The weekend’s scheduled travel restrictions are subject to change due to weather, emergencies, and other conditions that might arise. Motorists are urged to exercise caution whenever traveling through project work areas.
The Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridge is the Commission’s third most heavily used river crossing. It carried an average of 1.4 million vehicles per month (both directions) during the first half of this year.
