Route 495 bridge repair project: what you need to know

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The Lincoln Tunnel has been an essential link between New York and New Jersey for nearly 85 years. It is a lifeline for thousands of commuters from home to work. And now, things are going to get much more complicated.

A major rehabilitation project is happening at the Route 495 viaduct on the New Jersey side. The plan is to close two lanes on the bridge near the Lincoln Tunnel. The project won't be complete until 2021, so it will snarl traffic in and out of the city for a long time.

On August 10, the New Jersey Department of Transportation shut down the 31st Street ramp from Kennedy Boulevard to Route 495. Traffic is being detoured onto local roads.

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The major closure is set to start on August 17 at 9 p.m., when one lane of Route 495 in each direction will close.

The DOT is urging drivers to use other alternatives, such as the George Washington Bridge, the Holland Tunnel, or public transportation.

But New Jersey transit has had a rough couple of weeks with a number of delays and last-minute cancellations.