The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has announced that the Route 23 southbound ramp to Hamburg Turnpike/CR 694 in West Milford will be closed and detoured during daytime hours next week. The closure is part of ongoing work on the Route 23 Bridge replacement project over the Pequannock River and Hamburg Turnpike, which spans areas in both Morris and Passaic counties.
According to NJDOT, the ramp will be closed from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day beginning Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23. The closure is necessary for demolition of the existing bridge structure. “Work is being done during the day to avoid excessive noise overnight that could disturb surrounding residences,” NJDOT stated.
During this period, traffic on Route 23 itself will not be affected, but motorists are advised to slow down, use caution, and expect minor delays when traveling through the area. A posted detour will direct drivers wishing to access Hamburg Turnpike or High Crest Road/Bloomingdale to continue south on Route 23, take the ramp to Kinnelon/Butler, turn left onto Kinnelon Road/CR 618 (which becomes Kiel Avenue), then left onto Park Place and right onto Main Street, which leads back to Hamburg Turnpike/CR 694.
This work is part of a larger $78.2 million federally funded project that involves replacing the bridge over the Pequannock River, Hamburg Turnpike, and nearby railroad tracks as well as making drainage and utility improvements between mileposts 16.6 and 17.2 along Route 23 at the border of West Milford (Passaic County) and Butler/Kinnelon (Morris County). Project completion is anticipated for fall 2028.
NJDOT notes that construction schedules may change due to weather or other factors. Motorists can find real-time travel information and updates about this project at www.511nj.org.
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