The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the start of rockfall mitigation operations in Montville Township, Morris County, as part of a $1.4 million project to remove loose rock and stabilize rocky outcrops at two separate locations along Interstate 80.

NJDOT began similar rockfall safety operations last October in Allamuchy and Frelinghuysen townships in Warren County.

On March 11, NJDOT closed a 0.4-mi. (.6 km) stretch of the right shoulder of I-80 westbound, between mileposts 47.5 and 47.9, to establish a construction zone adjacent to the highway. NJDOT’s contractor, Merco Inc., will install precast concrete construction barrier on both sides of the highway and remove existing guide rail to provide workers the space to maneuver.

Temporary single and double lane closures will be allowed on I-80 in both directions during off-peak hours. In addition, NJDOT will permit full roadway closures of all lanes on I-80 for rock scaling operations for 15-minute periods between midnight and 4 a.m., only as needed.

The contractor will construct wire mesh slope protection on the face of the rock outcrop along both sides of Interstate 80, and construct new guide rail along the base of the rock embankments. Rock catch fences also will be installed along portions of the highway. NJDOT anticipates completing the project in both Morris and Warren counties by fall 2011.

Variable Message Signs will be used to inform motorists of traffic pattern changes during construction. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.