Route 80 to be Closed Briefly Wednesday

Motorists might want to avoid Route 80 East tonight.

State police will close the highway while up to 1,000 motorcycles exit Rockaway Townsquare mall from Route 80's Mount Hope Road ramp at around 6:30 p.m. for Gooch's Garlic Run, New Jersey Department of Transportation spokesman Timothy Greeley said in an email.

Motorcyclists will also receive a police escort once they reach Route 280 in Parsippany.

The motorcycle run, in its 24th year, is sponsored by the law enforcement motorcycle association The Blue Knights.

Motorcycles are expected to reach Route 21 via Exit 15, where Newark police will hold Route 21 South traffic. Then the bikers will be escorted to Raymond Boulevard to Newark's Iberia Restaurant around 7:10 p.m.