UNION, N.J. — A safety improvement project that will add an auxiliary lane and sidewalks on U.S. Route 22 westbound near Vauxhall Road has begun and is expected to last until next summer, the state Department of Transportation announced in a recent press release.
This work originally was scheduled to start the weekend of Sept. 14 and 15, but was delayed due to bad weather.
The $2.2 million federally-funded project will construct an auxiliary lane on Route 22 westbound from Gary Road to the Vauxhall exit ramp in Union and improve the deceleration and acceleration lane for the Route 22 exit to, and the entrance from, Sayre Road.
In addition, a sidewalk will be added along Route 22 between Vauxhall Road and Sayre Road, and the pedestrian stairway that connects Route 22 westbound and Vauxhall road will be realigned.
Drainage will be improved by adding inlets, and the roadway will be repaved.
Lanes on Route 22 westbound between Gary Road and Sayre Road will be narrowed from 12 to 11 feet, and will be shifted left toward the concrete median to provide a wider shoulder. The wider shoulder will allow multiple utilities to relocate their equipment. This configuration is expected to be in place until the fall, when the project will move into a new stage.
Variable Message Signs will provide advance notification to motorists of the traffic pattern changes associated with the work. 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 at www.511nj.org for real-time travel information. For NJDOT news, follow Twitter @NJDOT_info and the NJDOT Facebook page.