Published on January 22, 2013

Mayor Janice S. Mironov announced that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has advised the Township that the new ten lane East Windsor Interchange 8 Toll Plaza will be fully open Saturday January 26 early morning, weather permitting. The relocation and opening of the new East Windsor Interchange 8 toll plaza will be done in phases commencing Tuesday January 22 midnight and concluding on Saturday January 26 early morning. Signage will be erected throughout the area to assist motorists during the conversion.

According to Mayor Mironov, “the key element for residents and area drivers to be aware of is that effective Friday, January 25, early morning/post-midnight, all traffic entering East Windsor Interchange 8 will access at the new toll plaza. As of that time, the existing toll plaza and all access ramps to it will be totally closed. New signage will direct vehicles to the newly opened Interchange 8.”

Access to the new toll plaza has been relocated to the east side of the Turnpike via ramps in the vicinity of the Route 33/Route 133 intersection. Recently installed traffic signals will enable vehicles to and from Route 33 and Route 133 to safely access and exit the Turnpike. Completion of the new bridge linking the Turnpike access and Route 133 is scheduled for late spring 2013.

During the conversion process, as of Wednesday, January 23 early morning post- midnight, northbound NJ Turnpike traffic will exit at the new toll plaza. As of Saturday January 26 early morning, all Turnpike traffic will exit at the new toll plaza. The new toll plaza and all related accesses will then be fully open and functioning and will have replaced the existing Interchange 8 plaza and access.

Mayor Mironov stated, “The opening of the new modernized greatly expanded Interchange 8 Toll Plaza will be a big plus which will greatly enhance access and convenience for residents, businesses and local employees to the East Windsor area. We believe the upgrades will be a great benefit to East Windsor residents, many of whom utilize the New Jersey Turnpike on a daily basis to commute.” Mayor Mironov added, “The improvements will make East Windsor an even more attractive location for new businesses to set up shop in the many great sites in the region surrounding the Turnpike. East Windsor Interchange 8 is centrally located in New Jersey and mid-way between New York and Philadelphia and all of the appealing markets and access to transportation routes and options.”

The entire New Jersey Turnpike Widening Project, according to the NJ Turnpike Authority, remains set for completion in mid-2014. At the completion of the project, there will be a 12-lane dual-dual car-truck roadway from Interchange 6 to Interchange 9. Currently, south of Interchange 8A and prior to East Windsor Interchange 8, the number of travel lanes is halved from six to three, creating congestions and logjams especially during peak travel hours. The NJ Turnpike Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Program consists of approximately 35 miles of road widening and associated interchange improvements from Interchange 6, in Mansfield Township Burlington County (Milepost 48) to just south of Interchange 9 in East Brunswick Township, Middlesex County (Milepost 83).

For additional widening project details and updates, residents and businesses can visit www.njturnpikewidening.com, or call the Widening Program’s question line at 1-877-658-9433.