Overnight lane and ramp closures are planned for Route 18 northbound in East Brunswick, Middlesex County, as part of an ongoing drainage and pavement rehabilitation project. The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced that these closures will take place from Sunday night through Wednesday morning.
Starting at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, until 5 a.m. Monday, March 9—and continuing nightly through Wednesday, March 11—the right and center lanes on Route 18 northbound will be closed between Gusto Grill (just before Rues Lane) and just before the ramp to Cindy Way/Brunswick Square Mall. This closure is required for reconstruction work on the right lane. During this period, the Route 18 northbound ramp to Rues Lane will also be closed.
A detour will direct motorists wishing to access Rues Lane or make all turns to continue northbound on Route 18, use the next jughandle before Cindy Way/Brunswick Square Mall, turn left onto southbound Route 18, then take the ramp to Rues Lane or all turns. Alternatively, drivers can continue southbound on Route 18 and follow a series of local roads—CR 527 North/Main Street/Spotswood, Main Street/CR 615, Old Bridge Turnpike/CR 527—to reach Rues Lane.
Additionally, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 until 5 a.m. Wednesday, March 11—and continuing each night through Friday—Route 18 northbound will be fully closed and detoured between Arthur Street and Milltown Road for reconstruction under the Cranbury Road Bridge over Route 18.
During this closure, motorists will be directed off Route 18 at Arthur Street/All Turns exit and routed along Arthur Street to Old Bridge Turnpike (CR-527), then onto Milltown Road back toward Route 18 via ramps leading to New Brunswick/I-95/NJ Turnpike or back onto southbound Route 18 using other available ramps.
This work is part of an $86.1 million federally funded project aimed at rehabilitating approximately four-and-a-half miles of roadway in East Brunswick. The improvements include milling and paving surfaces; upgrading drainage systems; relocating utilities; installing new sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps; upgrading guiderails; and making intersection enhancements throughout the project area. The entire project is expected to finish by late 2027.
“Variable messaging signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work,” according to NJDOT officials.
The timing of construction may change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. Motorists are encouraged by NJDOT officials to check their traffic information website (www.511nj.org) for updates about construction schedules and real-time travel conditions.
