The Pulaski Skyway reopened Saturday after a massive rehabilitation project. But more work is to come, officials say.
Drivers, here are the words you’ve all been waiting to hear: The Pulaski Skyway is open.
And two days early, no less!
The New Jersey Department of Transportation had said the spans that make up the Skyway would reopen by Monday, but drivers were overjoyed and even a bit confused Saturday when they found they could again travel on its lanes.
The northbound lanes on the Pulaski Skyway have been opened, allowing traffic to flow in both directions over the bridge. Read more about this milestone here: https://t.co/D4wPY3VYUy pic.twitter.com/XnSC2NFkTz
— NJDOT (@NJDOT_info) June 30, 2018
The 85-year-old, 3.5 mile-long series of bridges connect Newark and Jersey City traveling over the Passaic and Hackensack rivers.
Drivers who use the spans — and have been waiting and waiting for them to reopen — were more than happy to have their bridge back.
The Pulaski Skyway northbound is open now! A long renovation. We just used it for the first time in 4+ years. A nice smooth ride. #pulaskiskyway
— Dave Stewart (@DaveStewartNYC) July 1, 2018
Made it to work (Hoboken) in less than 20 mins [?] [?]
— Vinny (@Officialvenneth) June 30, 2018
Since the Pulaski skyway open going to the city going to be a smooth ride
— Germain (@RoldyG) June 30, 2018
The Pulaski Skyway was closed in 2014 as part of a $ 1 billion rehabilitation project.
The reopening date had been pushed back many times, frustrating drivers who depend on it for their daily commute.
New Jersey Department of Transportation officials say while traffic lanes are open, more work on the Skyway will continue and there might be some intermittent closures in the future.
“We appreciate the public’s patience while these necessary repairs were made and traffic was rerouted,” DOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said in a release on the project.
“The good news is the innovative materials and methods used to rehabilitate the Skyway mean this deck will last for decades to come.”
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips