Why the Smoke Rise U-Turn Comes Third in the Route 23 Rebuild

In March 2017, NorthJersey.com reported that the state Department of Transportation had notified residents it would close Kinnelon's Smoke Rise Route 23 U-turn, calling it unsafe. In that NorthJersey.com story, staff writer Matt Fagan wrote that the decision "isn't sitting well with residents of the private community."

The change is now in a signed contract. On June 24, 2026, NJDOT awarded the Route 23, High Crest Drive to Macopin River project to New Prince Concrete Construction Co., Inc. for $23,226,418.60. NJDOT's own stage plan puts the Smoke Rise U-turn third in line. The S-curve near Germantown Road and the U-turns at the Pequannock Water Treatment Plant and the Apshawa River all come before it. So for anyone who uses the Smoke Rise gate, the first parts of this project they drive through won't be at the gate.

Nine Years From Notice to Contract

Here are the dates on record, from the first public notice to the expected finish.

When NJDOT officials held that Kinnelon High School meeting, NorthJersey.com reported that the improvements were "slated to begin in 2020." The project's official site, rt23highcrest.com, now describes the start as "expected to begin in fall 2026." It also lists a finish date three years later. If that schedule holds, a household that heard about the closure in 2017 will see the full job finished about twelve years later.

What Changes at U-Turn #2

The NJDOT Public Information Center flyer spells out the Smoke Rise change. The project will close the "southbound to northbound Smoke Rise median U-turn ramp" at milepost 18.8 and realign the northbound-to-southbound ramp. The project site, which numbers this crossing as U-Turn #2, describes the same work in more detail:

• Removing the existing acceleration lanes at U-Turns #2 and #3
• Eliminating the former Route 23 southbound access at U-Turn #2
• Adding new deceleration lanes for vehicles approaching both U-turns
• Building a retaining wall along the northbound side near U-Turn #2

The 2017 coverage explains why this crossing matters so much to the community. In that story, NorthJersey.com described the Smoke Rise North Gate as reachable only from the southbound side of Route 23. Drivers heading north had to go "an extra mile to the next U-turn to head back south" to reach it. That description dates from the earlier proposal. NJDOT's current materials describe only the ramp work, the deceleration lanes and the goal of better sight lines.

NJDOT's reason for changing all three crossings is the same: to "increase driver visibility and stopping sight distance," and on the flyer, to improve deceleration lane lengths. In practice, drivers will slow down in a lane off the highway before turning, rather than accelerating back into traffic from a short merge.

Why Smoke Rise Comes Third

The project site breaks the work into five stages.

1. Stage 1. Northbound traffic shifts to a temporary lane on the left through the S-curve. Crews finish roadway and shoulder work in the S-curve and other selected spots, reconfigure U-Turn #3 at the Pequannock Water Treatment Plant, and build a new stormwater basin near it.
2. Stage 2. Northbound traffic shifts to a temporary lane on the right through the S-curve. Crews finish more of the S-curve work, reconfigure U-Turn #1 at the Apshawa River, and build a second basin near that U-turn.
3. Stage 3. Crews reconfigure U-Turn #2 at Smoke Rise and build the northbound retaining wall near it.
4. Stages 4 and 5. Crews resurface both directions using overnight lane closures, install the remaining guiderail and apply final striping.

The S-curve gets two stages because widening it is the core of the project. NJDOT's stated purpose is to extend the life of the pavement in both directions and improve safety on the northbound S-curve near Germantown Road. Between mileposts 17.80 and 18.20, northbound Route 23 will be regraded and widened for better superelevation, meaning the banking of the curve, and a standard 8-foot outside shoulder. The project site says the Route 23 and Germantown Road intersection will be upgraded during the same southern-portion work, which includes U-Turn #1.

Moving northbound traffic left in Stage 1 and right in Stage 2 lets crews rebuild one side of the curve while cars use the other. NJDOT says it can run all five stages "without the need for any Route 23 mainline detour." For a Smoke Rise driver, the S-curve shifts and the U-turn work at the other two crossings come first. The work at their own crossing follows.

How Big the Job Is

Resurfacing runs from milepost 17.20 to 19.80, which is about 2.6 miles of both directions. On top of the paving, the contract includes:

• Reconstructing the northbound outside shoulder between mileposts 17.20 and 17.84
• Replacing existing guiderail with modern safety barriers and end treatments
• Replacing bridge parapets and rebuilding the bridge safety barriers at drainage culverts
• New curb, retaining walls and stormwater drainage basins
• Lighting upgrades

The project crosses two counties. The flyer lists it as West Milford, Passaic County and Kinnelon, Morris County. NJDOT says the environmental studies and permits were finished during the design phase, in coordination with federal and state agencies.

What the Traffic Plan Promises

NJDOT's flyer makes three commitments about traffic. Route 23 itself will not be detoured. Lane closures will happen "when needed" and "within allowable work hours." And "detours will be required for construction of the U-turn movements." The project site adds that the Stage 4 and 5 resurfacing will use overnight lane closures.

Put those together with the stage order and you get a rough idea of the next few years for anyone using the Smoke Rise crossing. They'll drive through lane shifts at the S-curve first. Then come U-turn detours at the Pequannock Water Treatment Plant and the Apshawa River. The Smoke Rise crossing gets its own detour work in Stage 3. Overnight paving closes out the job.

Where to Follow the Work

NJDOT runs rt23highcrest.com as the project's public page. It has the presentation from the September session, including a narrated Spanish version, and an email address for questions. The flyer lists Shivon Harris, Regional Area Coordinator in NJDOT's Office of Government and Community Relations, at 609-963-1218 or [email protected]. NJDOT's notice also says that property owners with rental units should tell tenants they're invited to take part. That matters for anyone renting out a home along this stretch. Kinnelon Borough also reposts commuter advisories on its news page, such as the Port Authority's October notice about bus access to the Midtown Bus Terminal.

If you're thinking about selling a home in Smoke Rise or along this part of Route 23 before fall 2029, the construction stage at the time of your showings will shape how buyers get to your door. The Werner Group follows this corridor from our West Milford office and can help you time your listing and directions around the work. Start with a free home valuation, and we'll talk through where the project stands in your season.