Today New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued an executive order that will close all non-essential construction sites in the state indefinitely as of 8 p.m. on Friday April 10.

Exclusions to that order include work at hospital and school sites, as well as transportation and utility projects, affordable housing, individual housing sites that can adhere to strict limits in workers that allow workers to be safely distanced from each other. Any emergency repairs and work needed to safely secure a construction site would also be allowed.

Following the governor’s announcement of the executive order, UTCA sent this statement:

“As we anticipated infrastructure work is deemed “essential” and our projects will continue to be allowed to operate.

The following are categories of work to be deemed essential; however, when the Executive order is available, we believe the language contained in the order will provide more flexibility regarding the continuance of construction projects.

• Transportation projects, utility sector (both public & private) projects and most other public works projects.
• Construction necessary for the delivery of healthcare services, hospitals, Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical etc.
• School Construction
• Residential projects with affordable housing components
• Homeless shelter related projects
• Individual housing sites that can adhere to social distancing of workers on-site at any given time
• Work needed to safely secure a construction site”