Politics & Government

Weekend GWB Closures Expected to Cause Major Delays

Three of four lanes will be blocked in both directions starting Saturday night.

Motorists should expect major traffic delays beginning Saturday night when crews will block three of four lanes in both directions of the George Washington Bridge for repairs, the Port Authority said Thursday.


Closures are scheduled from 10 p.m. Saturday to Sunday at 10 a.m., the agency said. The work is the latest in a series of road closures on the upper level required. Emergency closures over the past several days have snarled rush hour traffic.


“The closure will allow contractors to replace critical steel deck panels on the current deck, significantly minimizing the chances of another emergency closure of the bridge during the holidays,” the Port Authority said.

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Motorists were asked to consider alternate routes, including the lower level or Lincoln and Holland tunnels.


Work to replace the bridge’s upper level steel deck is more than 85 percent complete, but winter weather has played in a role in three emergency lane closures when cracks in support beams were found, according to the Port Authority.

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Engineers with the bi-state agency recommended that contractors work Saturday night to finish replacing sections of the steel deck panels before work is halted for the holidays, the Port Authority said. The project is set to be completed in March.


“At the conclusion of this weekend’s work, crews will have placed approximately 570 of the 632 steel deck panels that are being replaced on the bridge as part of a state of good repair project,” an agency statement said.




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