Rt. 18 East Brunswick To Have All Lanes Restored By End Of 2026, Mayor Says

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Commuters frustrated by Route 18 construction may soon have a reason to breathe easier, according to a new update from Mayor Brad Cohen.

All three lanes in both directions on Route 18 are expected to be restored by the end of 2026, eliminating long-term lane closures within the project limits, the New Jersey Department of Transportation said in response to an inquiry from Cohen.

The mayor shared the update on Facebook, saying he had reached out to the project team for a status report.

"The project is progressing well, with various construction activities slated through late 2026. Our objective is to restore all three lanes in both directions by the end of this year, eliminating long-term lane closures within the project limits," DOT Program Specialist Eileen Sosa said in the response.

Punch-list items — including corrective action items, testing, signal acceptance, and landscaping — will be completed in early 2027, Sosa said.

The work is part of the $86.1 million federally funded Route 18 Drainage and Pavement Rehabilitation Project, which covers approximately four and a half miles of Route 18 in East Brunswick.

The project includes milling and paving, improvements to drainage systems and stormwater basins, utility relocation, installation of new sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps, and guiderail upgrades, officials said. Improvements will also be made to various intersections throughout the project limits.

The project is expected to be fully completed in late 2027.

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