The Helix Fix – The Lincoln Tunnel Helix Rehabilitation Project

About

On November 15, 2011, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a project to repair the Lincoln Tunnel Route 495 roadway approach, known as the Helix. This iconic roadway structure leading directly into the Lincoln Tunnel is more than 70 years old, and is nearing the end of its useful life. The Lincoln Tunnel Helix Rehabilitation Project will repair this crucial infrastructure over a period of three years in order to extend the roadway’s usability.

Detour and Schedule Information

Construction will begin in the eastbound direction to New York. Preliminary work will begin on the underside of the roadway in March 2012. Full project start-up in August 2012 through 2013. Work in the westbound direction to New Jersey will be done between 2013 and 2014.

Estimated Work Hours – Off-Peak Overnights

While the helix will be closed during the times listed, the Lincoln Tunnel will remain open, however traffic will be detoured. Customers should use alternate routes during these times.

Phase I – Eastbound towards New York — August 6, 2012-Summer 2013
Sunday: 1 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Sunday: 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday
Monday: 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday
Tuesday: 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday
Wednesday: 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday
Thursday: 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday
Friday: 11:59 p.m. until 8 a.m. Saturday

Weather permitting, work will continue through the winter.

Phase II – Westbound towards New Jersey — 2013-2014
Sunday: 1 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Sunday: 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday
Monday: 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday
Tuesday: 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday
Wednesday: 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday
Thursday: 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday
Friday: 11:59 p.m. until 8 a.m. Saturday

Alternate Travel

Customers planning to use the Lincoln Tunnel during this time period should seek alternate routes and consider mass transit options such as PATH and NJ TRANSIT. Visit 511 New Jersey and 511 New York for regional traffic and transit information.

Background and Staging

Now about 74 years old, the Lincoln Tunnel is one of the busiest crossings in the world, carrying over 40 million vehicles per year. In addition to passenger cars and trucks, each weekday morning, the busiest bus lane in the nation known as the Exclusive Bus Lane, or XBL, operates at the tunnel. The XBL is a 2.5-mile contra-flow commuter bus lane traveling along New Jersey Route 495, leading from the New Jersey Turnpike to the Lincoln Tunnel. It operates during the weekday morning peak period (from approximately 6:00 am until 10:00 am), with Lincoln Tunnel staff setting up the lane about a half-hour beforehand each day. The XBL handles approximately 1,800 buses that carry about 63,000 passengers each day during the morning peak, representing more than half of the total number of customers that travel through the Lincoln Tunnel during this period.

The Port Authority is committed to keeping this important public infrastructure operational and in good repair. Performing work at a time when traffic is at its lightest will cause the least impact to most commuters, workers, travelers, and businesses. Since the tunnel roadway undergoes heavy traffic use during the daytime, the roadway repairs will be conducted during overnight hours.

Alternate Travel

Customers planning to use the Lincoln Tunnel during this time period should seek alternate routes and consider mass transit options such as PATH and NJ TRANSIT. Visit 511 New Jersey and 511 New York for regional traffic and transit information.

Detour Map for New York-bound Traffic

Progress

August 6, 2012 - Phase I-Eastbound towards New York begins.

Community

Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner discuss the Helix Fix Project with a local resident during a door to door visit.

Benefits

Roadway

Work being performed on the Lincoln Tunnel Helix will provide a smoother riding surface, improve safety and reduce delays for periodic maintenance.

Local Jobs

This project is expected to result in 210 direct job-years and direct payroll wages of $17 million. The total economic activity impact amounts to 470 total job-years, $27 million in wages and $123 million in economic activity over the life of the project.

Email Updates

Ways To Stay Informed

511
Visit 511 New Jersey and 511 New York for regional traffic and transit information.

Bridge & Tunnel Alerts
Subscribe to Lincoln Tunnel Alerts and have notifications about incidents or events that may delay your trip across the Lincoln Tunnel sent to you via text or email. NOTE: Standard text rates may apply.

Weekly Traffic Advisory
Click here to view the Lincoln Tunnel Weekly Traffic Advisory.  You will also be able to view advisories for other Port Authority Tunnel and Bridge crossings as well as our PATH rail system.

Contact

If you have  questions related to The Lincoln Tunnel Helix Rehabilitation Project, email us at thehelixfix@panynj.gov or call 1-855-744-0144.