DOT Waits for Waters to Recede to Fix I-287 Collapse
Highway's closure causes significant traffic delays.
The state Department of Transportation is waiting for waters to recede before fixing a portion of Interstate 287 North that partially collapsed late Sunday night.
The highway remained closed through the evening commute to northbound traffic between exits 43 and 45 as the DOT waits for flood waters to recede far enough to begin repairs.
“We anticipate that 287 northbound will remain closed at this time,” said Tim Greeley, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation. “As soon as we can, we will begin making the necessary repairs to that side of the highway.”
The overwhelming amount of storm water coupled with rising tides and record crests on a number of inland rivers "combines to present a highly challenging condition for the earth underneath our highways," Greeley said. At milepost 44.3, erosion from the water caused close to 100 feet of the shoulder to collapse, and the erosion is ongoing.
The road closure caused a massive traffic backup between I-287 at exit 40 (Parsippany and Entin roads) through exit 43. Late Sunday night, a section of the highway collapsed—specifically the shoulder, a portion of the right lane and for the bridge—over the Rockaway River in Boonton. Northbound traffic has been diverted as a result of the damage, state police said.
Drivers have been detoured around the area of the collapse. Those attempting to get onto I-287 north from Parsippany are being sent up Route 202 to exit 45.
This is just some of the headache the river is causing in the area following this weekend's storm. Hundreds of residents of Parsippany's Lake Hiawatha had to be evacuated after the river breached its retaining wall, causing severe flooding. Rescue crews are still in lower Hiawatha helping people leave the water-logged section. Many are now in hotels, with family or friends or being housed in an evacuation shelter site at Lake Hiawatha Elementary School on Lincoln Avenue in Parsippany.
There is no word yet as to when displaced residents will be permitted to return to their homes.
Another evacuation is taking place at the Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson hotels on Route 46 East due to flooding from Irene. Parsippany's Rescue and Recovery squad and other groups are removing people at the hotel to safe sites.
Patch will continue to update this story.
Keith Bochner
11:29 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
It was not a bridge, the roadway actually collapsed into the river, shoulder and right lane are gone as the raging river eroded away at the banks where the river butts up to 287 just north of the reservoir. Northbound traffic diverted off at Intervale Road. Traffic is a mess northbound, southbound fine.
Frank
7:47 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Actually the right lane did not go away, the only lane that disappeared is the shoulder..
Tom Nestor
11:32 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
My wife is stuck on 287N right now, the road is all but stopped. Best bet would have been to get off onto Route 80, but it's too late for her now. They should block entry onto 287N.
Louise DuMont
1:53 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I think 80 was closed in places as well. My normal 25 minute commute took 1.5 hours this morning.
Laura M
2:02 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Has any indication been given as to when it may be re-opened?
Keith Bochner
3:56 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
That is probably going to take a while to fix. It may partially re-open with a lane or two at some point soon, but they are going to have to design a long term fix there which will take a while to complete.
David S
2:38 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
'days' if the last I heard. I attempted an errand in that direction today before realizing what was going on. In attempts to take any local roads back to Madison, I came across no less than 4 more road closures, including Columbia Turnpike near the airport, 10 in Whippany in two places, Beverwyke Road and another tertiary road off of Algonquin in Hanover. The Morris County Sherrif's department is assisting over burdened municipalities with traffic control. However, none of them are talking to each other. Some of the detours lead you literally in circles. The morale of this story - stay home if you can! Other than having to get to work, shop Madison for the next few days!
Laura M
2:55 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Thanks for the update, David. This is a nightmare. I was so concerned about getting to work this morning that I didn't realize I would have a much harder time getting home with 46, 23 and 287 closed. I was hearing conflicting reports as to whether or not Intervale Road is open. Does anyone know if it is or not?
Keith Bochner
3:52 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The lower part of Intervale is open from 46 to Midvale in Mountain Lakes, I am not sure beyond that but I didn't see anything indicating that it was closed.
Laura M
3:55 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
OK, thank you!
Lou VK
4:34 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
So can you take 80 and get on 287N?
David S
5:05 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
even if you could, I think that puts you on south of the road closure.
Steven J
8:08 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The closure is on 287 north in Boonton. You will not be able to take 287 north from route 80. That is now closed and will be for a while. It's going to be a nightmare coming up with a quick way around as there are not too many good options.
Andrew
8:51 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Check out the video of the repairs...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho9AUaAyEWs
David S
9:37 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho9AUaAyEWs will work better. :)
No Name
11:38 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Soo.. It looks like, contrary to what a State Trooper told me, there is still most of the road there. Had I "ran" the roadblock tonight, I could have avoided a 5hr drive (for what should have taken 45min), and I would have, in fact, been able to get through.
What actually happens if you choose to proceed past the barricades? Will they chase you, or basically let you choose to take your chances?
Yes, I am seriously asking this question, and I would like a serious, honest factual answer. Between the Rt 287 "closure" and flooding on Rt 23, I'm basically "trapped" up north, and unable to get to work. As long as it wouldn't ignite a "man hunt"/high-speed chase type scenario, I'm willing to think for myself, and accept the potential danger of traveling on the "closed" section. What are the legal consequences, assuming a successful "transit" through the area with no need for any kind of rescue or assistance?
Jake Remaly
5:17 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Water erosion is washing away the earth beneath the highway there. So, while it looks like mostly the shoulder collapsed, more of the highway there could be unstable. If motorists were to drive on it, the state could have a much larger collapse on its hands. This is what the DOT said.
Montville police said they were issuing summonses to people who don't heed closure signs on local roads, and two drivers who chanced it got stuck and needed to be rescued by first responders. "The blockades are there for a reason," is a line we've been hearing.
Steven J
5:27 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I would not recommend going thru the barriers, you will get stopped and ticketed. You are not "trappe" up north as you will have no problem going south. The issue will be getting back. There really aren't too many good options. If you are coming from the west I would do 15 to Berkshire Valley to 23. If you are east 23 should be open in a day or two. But if you are south, even knowing the side streets, the options are limited.
This is definately a weird part of 287 where they have three off ramps before they have the next on ramp.
Meg Gray
11:52 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Don't risk it would be my advice. Load up your ipod with good music and make some calls to friends with your handsfree. That's how I passed my commute home from Morristown to Bloomingdale today. But only 1.5 hours. Where were you coming from and what detour did you take? I took 287 N to exit 41 in Parsippany, left off exit, straight onto 202N, when 202 bears right towrd 287 again, stayed straight on Fanny Road, took backroad thru Moutnain Lakes to Boonton Ave and was back in the Triboro. On a bad day it can take me an hour anyway. Considering what some people are going thru right now, it's peanuts.
suzanne
10:24 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
well, I live on one of those "back roads" and between the extra traffic all night and the multiple copters overhead this morning it's like a war zone. People, I know you just came off a major highway and you are frustrated, but how about not driving 55 or 60 mph on my little street.
Meg Gray
11:02 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
well, that wasn't me suzanne. I drive the limit. While I'm slightly sorry you have to hear traffic noise, feel like the warzone analogy is probably a slight exaggeration, and in kind of poor taste, don't you think, all things considered of what people are dealing with right now?? Do you know anyone in Fairfield, Pompton Plains, Pompton Lakes?
AnnB
10:33 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anyone know if the route from Pocono Rd. to the Boulevard to Main St. Boonton is open? trying to get from Denville to Boonton....thanks
Lou VK
7:37 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
1 lane of 287 north is open now. All lanes of 287 south are open.
Lou VK
6:26 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
All lanes open. Nice.
David S
12:39 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Patch editors - the article says you will coninuosly update the information. It appears the article is now out of date... Or is it?
Natalie Davis
12:52 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
It is out of date and we have reported updates, though not on this page. The latest is that waters started receding late Monday, repairs commenced Tuesday and the left lane was reopened Tuesday afternoon. As of 4 a.m. Thursday, enough repair work had been done to the substructure to allow all lanes to reopen. There are other stories on the site that address all these things; those are the updates. No worries, David, we're on it.