Park Ave bridge detour map.jpg

City and county officials are warning of "significant traffic delays" on Hoboken's northern end starting July 5, when the Park Avenue Bridge will be southbound only, leaving the Willow Avenue Bridge one block west as the sole northern route out of the Mile Square City. A Park Avenue rehabilitation project requiring the southbound-only chang is expected to last several months.

(Hudson County)

HOBOKEN -- If you commute through the Mile-Square City's northern end, have a happy Fourth of July!

Because the fifth -- and the rest of the summer -- may be anything but.

Officials are warning of "significant traffic delays" at Hoboken's northern end starting Tuesday, thanks to a Park Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project by Hudson County that will limit the bridge to southbound traffic only, leaving the Willow Avenue Bridge as the sole northern route out of the city, toward Weehawken, the Lincoln Tunnel or Route 495.



"Drivers should plan for significant traffic delays, consider alternate routes, adjust work hours or telecommute if possible, use public transportation, and provide extra travel time," stated an advisory issued by the city on Wednesday. "It is likely that this configuration will result in increased congestion when exiting Hoboken towards Weehawken, especially during the morning rush hour."

At the request of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Hudson County officials have agreed to evaluate the project's traffic impact during its first few weeks to determine whether the detour plan needs to be changed.



Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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