Lane closures, patriotism maintained at Causeway Bridge work site

Photo by Ryan Morrill
A drone captures the view of the construction.

Both east- and west-bound lane closures on the Causeway bridges will continue throughout the next few weeks as the center medians on the east and west thoroughfares are removed and then replaced with temporary barriers, Stephen Schapiro, communications director of the N.J. Department of Transportation, told The SandPaper. The project is expected to begin on Monday, March 9, weather permitting. One lane in each direction will remain open to motorists throughout the length of the project, Schapiro assured.

Lane closures this past week were coordinated with Schiavone Construction Co.’s current work to include reflectors on the center area of the main bridge, which local officials requested, Schapiro said.

Although a pair of American flags has been hanging from the cranes at the work site since Schiavone began working at the location, passersby may have only recently noticed them. The flags, which “are usually taken down during the work shift when the cranes are in use and put up when the shift is over,” Schapiro explained, appeared more visible when smaller, 8-by-10-foot flags were recently switched out for larger, 10-by-15-foot flags.

One of the flags has also recently remained on display as Schiavone has ceased using one of the two cranes.

Schiavone hangs American flags at all of its project sites, Schapiro noted.

“Contractors often hang flags to show the pride and patriotism that everyone on a project feels in helping to build the country’s infrastructure,” he said.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.