Interstate 295

Interstate 295 constitutes the eastern "Bypass" of the city of Philadelphia between New Castle, Delaware and Trenton, New Jersey. The four to six lane freeway mainly serves commuting interests through the eastern Philadelphia suburbs outside Camden including Woodbury, Bellmawr, Lawnside and Cherry Hill Township. I-295 parallels the New Jersey Turnpike from Deepwater north to White Horse east of Trenton. The bulk of through traffic headed to New York City and North Jersey generally uses the Turnpike instead of I-295. However both routes are still heavily traveled.

Interstate 295 New Jersey Guides

The relocation of Interstate 95 onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike east by Bristol, Pennsylvania and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension to Mansfield Township, New Jersey coincided with sign changes implemented in January 2018 that extended I-295 west U.S. 1 at Lawrenceville to the Scudder Falls Bridge over the Delaware River. Subsequent sign changes in Spring 2018 further lengthened I-295 southwest over what was I-95 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Along the north Trenton belt line, signs for I-295 continue with north/south cardinal directions. Within the Keystone State, I-295 is signed as an east/west route.

Prior to 1993, I-295 traveled west from U.S. 1 to New Jersey Route 31, ten years after plans for the Somerset Freeway alignment of I-95 were dropped. The final 3.1 mile long segment of I-295 opened on December 22, 1994 between U.S. 130/206 and Interstate 195 along wetland areas beside the Delaware River through Bordentown and Hamilton Townships. Constructed as part of the $400 million Trenton Complex project, the last segment of I-295 ties into Route 29 leading north from I-195 to the newly built at the time Route 129.¹ Work to build the six lane freeway along the Delaware River commenced in 1990 as a six contract project costing more than $250 million.² The remainder of I-295 opened by the 1960s and 1970s. Some more specific dates:³

• March 1961 - I-76 east to U.S. 30 at Barrington.
• 1963 - 6.6 miles from U.S. 30 at Barrington to Route 73 in Mount Laurel township.
• April 27, 1969 - 3.9 miles from Route 73 to CR 537 (Marne Highway) in Mount Laurel township
• October 26, 1972 - Route 38 to CR 541 in Burlington township
• November 1972 - 13 miles in Burlington County
• May 26, 1973 - 8.5 miles at Bordentown
• December 1974 - half mile between Rising Sun Road and U.S. 130 in Bordentown township

The set of rest areas along Interstate 295 in Florence Township closed in 2003 by order of Governor Jim McGreevey due to budget cuts and reported illegal activities at the facilities.⁴ The southbound rest area in Florence Township was officially dedicated to New York Radio DJ Howard Stern in 1995. Governor Christine Todd Whitman fulfilled a promise made to Stern during the 1993 election after he endorsed her campaign. Stern asked Whitman on the night prior to election day if the Governor would name a rest stop after him. A three foot stone pillar supporting an aluminum cast plaque with a rendering of Stern and an outhouse was posted at the southbound rest area. New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials said it was the first non-toll road rest area to be dedicated.⁵

Various improvements were completed along the freeway east of Camden in the mid 2000s, resulting in widening, reconstruction and implementation of sound barriers. Originally anticipated for completion in 2017, the I-295 Direct Connect project addresses the exchange joining I-76, I-295 and Route 42 (North-South Freeway) at Bellmawr. Started in March 2013 and running through Winter 2023 2028, the four contract project removes I-295 from the short overlap with I-76 and Route 42, adding a new mainline above the North-South Freeway. Ramps at the northern exchange between I-76 and I-295 will be redesigned as well.

Starting on March 20, 2020,⁶ the Missing Moves project constructs ramps ramps joining I-295 north with Route 42 south and Route 42 north with I-295 south. These were never built in the original design of the exchange between the two freeways. Federally funded, work on the $180 million project continues to late 2023.⁷

scenes

Junction I-295/U.S. 130 shield assembly posted along Tomlin Road (CR 607) north in Greenwich Township. 06/19/00

Sloan Avenue (CR 649) east at I-295 south at Mercerville in Hamilton Township. 09/26/09

Scotch Road (CR 611) meets Interstate 295 at a cloverleaf interchange (Exit 73) north of Mercer-Trenton Airport (TTN). 12/20/22

Interstate 295 northbound heads southwest from Scotch Road (CR 611) in Ewing Township to the Scudder Falls Bridge. 12/20/22

Photo Credits:

06/19/00, 09/26/09, 12/20/22 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 76
Interstate 95
Interstate 195
U.S. 1
U.S. 130
U.S. 206
U.S. 322
Route 29
Route 42 - North South Freeway
Route 73

Page Updated 02-03-2023.