N.J. Stat. tit. 27, ch. 3

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-1 Establishment of detour upon necessity

When a road is being constructed, reconstructed or undergoing extraordinary repairs under the authority and direction of the board of chosen freeholders of a county, or the state highway commissioner, or by them jointly, and by reason thereof the road is closed to or rendered unfit for public travel, the body under whose authority and supervision the work is being done may provide a detour or detours over any other roads in the county, when the work is being done by the board of chosen freeholders, and over any other roads in the state when the work is being done by the state highway commissioner.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-2 Improvement of detour roads; consent required

In providing detours the board of chosen freeholders or the state highway commissioner may expend money on roads used as detours so as to place them in fit condition for public travel, provided they first obtain from the body having control and supervision of them, consent to make the repairs.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-3 Resolution declaring necessity for detours; cost of repair and maintenance

When the work contemplated by section 27:3-1 of this title will necessitate the providing of detours over other roads, the board of chosen freeholders may pass a resolution setting forth the fact that detours are necessary, naming the roads to be used, and setting forth the amount of money necessary to put the detours in proper condition for travel and to maintain them during the necessary period. When the state is engaged in any work requiring such detours the determination of the necessary facts shall be made by the state highway commissioner. The cost of repairing and maintaining the detours during that period may be included in and considered a part of the cost of construction, reconstruction or extraordinary repairs, and bonds or other obligations may be issued therefor in the same manner as for the construction, reconstruction or extraordinary repairs, and may be included in the same issue and as part thereof.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-4 Repair and maintenance of detour roads

The repair of roads used as detours and their maintenance during the necessary period may be included in the original contract for construction, reconstruction or extraordinary repairs, or may be let by separate contract, or the roads so used may be repaired and maintained as state and county roads are repaired and maintained, as the body authorizing the work may elect.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-5 State's contribution for detour roads

The state highway commissioner may contribute to any county for the purposes of this article any money that may come into his hands to be used for construction, reconstruction or extraordinary repairs, and may certify and set forth in writing to the board of chosen freeholders the amount of money he will give for the purpose of providing and maintaining detours, and the manner and method in which the sum so contributed shall be used, and may formulate such rules and regulations for the expenditure of the money as he may deem necessary. Money so contributed shall be used only for the purpose for which it is contributed, and expended under the authority and direction of the board of chosen freeholders of the county to which the contribution is made.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-6 Detour roads; establishment

When a road shall be closed temporarily by the governing body of a municipality, the board or body having control of such road or closing the same shall provide a detour road for the use of the public.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-7 Selection of route; control

The detour road so selected shall be the shortest practicable route from and to the road temporarily closed, and the governing body selecting it shall have full and complete jurisdiction over it, except as hereinafter provided, so long as it shall be used as a detour road.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-8 Improvement and maintenance of detour roads

The detour road shall be placed in, and shall be maintained in, proper condition for the use of the public during the period of its use as a detour road.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-9 Guide marks

The governing body shall erect and maintain proper signs to guide the public to, from and along the detour road from and to the points of departure from and re-entry upon the closed road.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-10 Restoration after use as detour

At the termination of the period of use of the detour road as such, the governing body shall place it in as good condition as when it assumed jurisdiction.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-11 Cost of repair and maintenance

The cost of repairing and maintaining detour roads as required by section 27:3-6 of this title shall be borne by the governing body required to maintain and repair them, and shall be a part of the cost of the construction, repair or reconstruction which necessitated the use of a detour.

N.J. Stat. § 27:3-12 Failure to provide or maintain detour; violations reported; remedy

When, in the opinion of the governing body of the municipality having original jurisdiction over a road or highway selected as a detour road, any other governing body fails or neglects to comply with the provisions of section 27:3-6 of this title with respect to a road or highway within its original jurisdiction it shall report the violation to the state highway engineer, who shall investigate it and, if he finds a violation, issue an order to the public authority hereby charged with the maintenance and repair of the detour road, directing it to make repairs to or to maintain the detour in the manner and within the time indicated in the order.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026