Detours in Parsippany as DOT finalizes Route 80 work

After more than two years of interstate highway hassles, Morris County drivers are about to get the holiday gift they've been yearning for.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation officials announced late on Wednesday that the Route 80 westbound express lanes in Parsippany will be returned to their final configuration this week as the roadway rehabilitation project between South Beverwyck and Littleton roads nears completion.

The final configuration includes three westbound express lanes with shoulders.

The work will require the temporary closing of one westbound express lane as well as the ramp from southbound Route 287 southbound to 80 westbound.

Detour details

On Wednesday night, Motorists traveling south on 287 southbound will be detoured to eastbound 80 Exit 45 (South Beverwyk Road) to 80 westbound.

On Thursday, the exit ramp from northbound 287 to westbound 80 is expected to be closed. Drivers heading north on 287 will be detoured north to Exit 43 (Intervale Road), over 287 and south on Route 202 (Parsippany Boulevard) to southbound 287 and back to westbound 80.

In separate work on the project, Exit 45 on eastbound 80 (South Beverwyk) Road also will be closed on Thursday for paving repairs.

Union Paving also is scheduled to close Exit 45 on eastbound 80 local lanes after 9 a.m. Thursday to repair a dip in the pavement. The work is expected to be completed before the afternoon commute. During that project, drivers will be detoured to Exit 47A (Route 280 east) to Exit 1 to (New Road) northbound to Route 46 and westbound to North Beverwyk Road. DOT hopes to have that work completed in time for the afternoon commute.

The $73 million project, which began construction in August 2012, is completely rebuilding all lanes of Interstate 80 between the Route 202 (Littleton Road) interchange (milepost 41.5) and the Beverwyck Road interchange (milepost 45.6), a very busy stretch of highway with an average of 159,000 vehicles traveling it daily.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors, a DOT release stated. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.