DOT 68-14
Friday, July 25, 2014
Contact: Doug Hecox
Tel: 202-366-0660

U.S. Transportation Secretary Visits Parsippany’s I-80 Rehabilitation Project

Joined by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Foxx urges Congress to pass ‘GROW America’ Act

PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, N.J. - U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) for a briefing on the progress of the $84 million I-80 Rehabilitation project. When completed next year, the project – which received an $83 million investment from the federal Highway Trust Fund – will improve local pavement condition and reduce traffic congestion on one of the area’s busiest routes. According to state estimates, this stretch of I-80 serves nearly 160,000 drivers each day.

“Congress must do more than simply hit the snooze button again and again on passing a long-term funding solution for our nation’s highways and bridges,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Our states deserve the reliability of a true federal partner to repair our nation’s transportation network and our drivers who use bridges and roads like I-80 each day to get to work and deliver freight to customers deserve a safe and reliable way to get there.”

Since August 2012, I-80 has undergone a complete rehabilitation between the Route 202/Littleton Road interchange (milepost 41.5) and the Beverwyck Road interchange (milepost 45.6).  The I-80 eastbound exit ramp in both directions of I-287, and the Route 202 northbound ramp to I-80 eastbound are also being fully reconfigured to provide safer and more efficient traffic flow throughout the route.

“This project will significantly improve safety for the thousands who depend on this route each day,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “A better road means a better standard of living, and multi-year projects like this one underscore Congress’ need to pass a multi-year transportation bill like the President’s ‘GROW America’ Act. Improving America’s roads and bridges isn’t possible with small projects alone.”

To cut time and save taxpayer money, the contractor is using a process called “rubblization,” which involves crushing old road pavement into small pieces so it can more easily, and more quickly, be paved over. Because of this innovation, the new pavement should last up to 30 years – much longer than normally expected.

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