Major crack forces shutdown of busy Smith Street in Woodbridge
Woodbridge, NJ – A major roadway in Middlesex County has been shut down after a long crack caused a dangerous displacement along Route 440/Smith Street, forcing state, county and local agencies to step in and reroute traffic.
On Thursday, officials closed the stretch between the Perth Amboy border and Highland Avenue following reports of severe damage. Crews from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Middlesex County Road Department, Woodbridge Public Works, OEM teams from both Woodbridge and Perth Amboy, and police from both municipalities responded and quickly blocked access to the corridor.
The Middlesex County Road Department, with help from Woodbridge police, put detours in place. Smith Street is now closed westbound from Route 35 to the Garden State Parkway bridge, and eastbound from Highland Avenue to Route 35. Additional closures extend to Florida Grove Road and Smith Street, with traffic rerouted through Florida Grove Road, New Brunswick Avenue and Crows Mill Road before returning to Riverside Drive and Smith Street. Local residents may still reach their homes using Highland Avenue.
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac confirmed the town had been monitoring the crack since last week. “It’s very serious. That road is going to take a long time to be replaced,” McCormac said.
Officials said the closure will remain in effect until engineers complete a full review of the highway and determine the extent of the damage. No timeline has been announced for repairs or reopening.
Ad: Save every day with Amazon Deals: Check out today's daily deals on Amazon.
Key Points
- A long crack on Smith Street/Route 440 forced a full road closure Thursday in Woodbridge.
- State, county and local agencies are investigating the cause and assessing damage.
- Traffic is being rerouted through Florida Grove Road, New Brunswick Avenue and Crows Mill Road.
The road that cracked open has become a major traffic headache for Middlesex County drivers.