TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced the Route 50 southbound weekend detour that has been in place since Memorial Day weekend will be extended to include July 4 to accommodate the holiday weekend summer traffic, as the Tuckahoe River Bridge rehabilitation project advances in Cape May County.
NJDOT has been working closely with local officials in Corbin City and Tuckahoe, who requested the detour to help alleviate traffic backups that are expected with the bridge reduced to one lane with alternating traffic. Access to local roads will be maintained for local traffic.
Starting July 2, and continuing through July 4, NJDOT’s contractor South State, Inc., will detour motorists from Route 50 southbound between Mosquito Landing Road and Route 49, past the construction zone to accommodate the expected summer holiday traffic. All motorists will follow the existing southbound truck detour on the following dates and times:
July 2, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
July 3, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
July 4, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Route 50 Southbound Detour:
- Motorists traveling on Route 50 southbound will be directed to bear right onto CR637/Cumberland Avenue
- From CR637/Cumberland Avenue, make a left onto CR666/Cape May Avenue.
- Make a left onto Route 49 eastbound
- Continue on Route 49 eastbound and make a right onto Route 50 southbound
Motorists heading to Cape May this summer are strongly urged to use alternate routes. Delays are expected because of the ongoing construction.
The $11.7 million federally-funded project, which began in October 2013 will demolish and replace the existing, structurally-deficient bascule lift drawbridge with a new low-level, fixed-span structure over the Tuckahoe River connecting Upper Township in Cape May County with Corbin City in Atlantic County. The project will reconstruct and widen the highway in the vicinity of the bridge, and provide safety and operational improvements at intersections including the addition of new dedicated turn lanes. New sidewalks and curbs will be installed along Route 50 and the existing drainage system will be upgraded. The project is expected to be complete by summer 2017.
Variable message signs and lane closure signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with the deck replacement project. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information before upcoming road closures.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.
