I-287 suffers additional buckling in Riverdale, N.J. after earlier incident
I-287 southbound lanes were closed Wednesday evening near Exit 42/Rt 23 in Pequannock, New Jersey after the roadway apparently buckled again.
The incident came on the heels of a similar event Tuesday afternoon in Morris County.
The state Department of Transportation said the bridge joints expanded and caused the roadway to buckle there. Crews had to shut down all southbound lanes for about an hour and a half Tuesday.
The DOT later announced the southbound lanes would remain closed for emergency repairs. The right lane was closed at mile post 52.6, south of Route 23 in Riverdale. The left and center lanes were closed at mile post 49.3, after the Brook Valley Road Bridge in Montville.
Chopper 2 flew over the scene Wednesday morning, and traffic was backed up for the morning commute.
The DOT initially said it was unclear how long the repairs would take, and drivers were urged to slow down, move over and expect delays.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday, the department posted on social media, saying all lanes had reopened between Exits 57 and 52.
I-287 travels between Westchester County, New York and Middlesex County, New Jersey, going over the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, formerly known as the Tappan Zee. The impacted stretch is just south of Route 23.