NJ - 295/76/42 Construction Projects

[Alps]

@ boilerup the fair assumption is ultimately Exit 26 to go south and 27 to go north. 27A/B is a possibility for southbound because the ramp from 295S-42S is a different piece than the Missing Moves ramps.

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bellmawr,+NJ/@39.8618037,-75.1034698,14.74z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c6ce59132c1707:0x92ca233e0cabd467!8m2!3d39.8676134!4d-75.0946182!16zL20vMHhsbGQ?entry=ttu

At least Google maps now shows the new ramps.

[bzakharin]

I've finally driven the NJ 42 / NJ 55 part of the interchange for the first time since the new ramps opened.
*It seems enough cars are entering NJ 42 from I-295 North to create somewhat of a delay approaching the NJ 55 exit
*NJ 55 northbound is free flowing approaching NJ 42 even with the shore traffic. NJ 42 northbound is a bit better as well

[roadman65]

I see the permanent bridge across the N- S Freeway is still not laid. Looks like it won't be anytime soon.

Piers are up but no girders

[roadman65]

I see the permanent bridge across the N- S Freeway is still not laid. Looks like it won't be anytime soon.

Piers are up but no girders

[jeffandnicole]

I see the permanent bridge across the N- S Freeway is still not laid. Looks like it won't be anytime soon.

Piers are up but no girders

Depends which bridge you're referring to.

The Browning Road bridge's girders are now up across 42/76. This bridge is estimated to open late in 2025.

After that bridge is open, then the viaduct span of 295 can finally be constructed. Numerous piers, along with the area where the wall collapsed, still needs to be completed before the bridge beams can be installed.

[roadman65]

My photos show the Browning Road crossing completed, but still with temporary structure still standing.

This project is taking way too long.  Even the CC Harbor in Texas is one that's been underway too long.  At this rate  bith projects will be done in 2030.

[jeffandnicole]

My photos show the Browning Road crossing completed, but still with temporary structure still standing.

This project is taking way too long.  Even the CC Harbor in Texas is one that's been underway too long.  At this rate  bith projects will be done in 2030.

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

[CtrlAltDel]

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

Didn't construction start in 2014?

[roadman65]

My photos show the Browning Road crossing completed, but still with temporary structure still standing.

This project is taking way too long.  Even the CC Harbor in Texas is one that's been underway too long.  At this rate  bith projects will be done in 2030.

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

I stand corrected.  I think I will be dead by the time this gets completed. I'm sure the CC Bridge will long be opened then.

[jeffandnicole]

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

Didn't construction start in 2014?

Earlier - January 2013 was when the first contract was awarded. 

(There was also a pre-project in 2012 to upgrade traffic signals on NJ 168 and US 130; roads that often handle traffic avoiding or feeding into/away from this interchange area)

[CtrlAltDel]

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

Didn't construction start in 2014?

Earlier - January 2013 was when the first contract was awarded. 

(There was also a pre-project in 2012 to upgrade traffic signals on NJ 168 and US 130; roads that often handle traffic avoiding or feeding into/away from this interchange area)

That's just bonkers. That ramp collapsing didn't help matters at all, but this is still a very long time.

[jeffandnicole]

Estimated finishing date of this project is now 2031-2032.

Didn't construction start in 2014?

Earlier - January 2013 was when the first contract was awarded. 

(There was also a pre-project in 2012 to upgrade traffic signals on NJ 168 and US 130; roads that often handle traffic avoiding or feeding into/away from this interchange area)

That's just bonkers. That ramp collapsing didn't help matters at all, but this is still a very long time.

It didn't help, but it didn't hurt as much as it would seem.

At the time, the Browning Road overpass was the big delay. The temporary bridge that was to go over 42 needed additional space in front of the cemetery to be constructed. The cemetery gave NJDOT a hard time in obtaining an easement, delaying that portion of the project for 3 years!  Most people never took notice to this, but that overpass is in the middle of the project and NJDOT wanted that completed first before moving on.

In hindsight - thank goodness that delay occurred. If the Browning Road overpass was constructed on time, the collapsed roadway may have been in use.

Since the temporary overpaas opened, construction has continued to move very slowly. The overpass was to be rebuilt in 18 months. It's now in month 39, with another 10 or 11 months to go.

As for the collapsed roadway/wall, they are in the process of building a new wall, this time made of solid concrete with the look of a MSE wall.

[jeffandnicole]

A significant milestone will be occuring Friday, 6/13/25.  The Browning Road (Camden County Route 659) overpass is scheduled to be opened.  The overpass has been bypassed by a temporary bridge, which opened in October, 2021 and was supposed to remain in place for 18 months. 44 months later, the new bridge is finally finished.

While a seemingly small part of the overall project - Browning Road cuts thru the interchange without any access to the highways below - NJDOT wanted to get this bridge finished first before building any of the eventual 295 viaduct over Browning Road. 

Along with finishing the overpass, contractors have been building up supports for 295; some of these will also support an overhead "S" curved ramp from 42 North to 295 North.

The roadway and wall that collapsed several years ago is also being worked on.  The wall itself is nearly complete.  While it still looks like a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Retaining Wall, it was instead built as a thick, solid wall, with MSE-looking grooves on the outside.  The inside of the wall area is currently being backfilled in with dirt and will eventually be part of 295 going over Browning Road and NJ 42.

A local reporting site has done a great job documenting and reporting on the project, and has pics and more info... https://42freeway.com/roads/bellmawrs-new-browning-road-bridge-opens-friday-june-13th/

[jeffandnicole]

The Browning Road overpass did open Friday, providing motorists with a wider bridge, with a slight hump which probably matches the crowning of the highway below.  As NJDOT termed it, the new bridge features a single 20' lane in each direction, with a 6' sidewalk on each side.  (This makes it consistent with the roadway width on either side of the bridge; shoulder markings aren't used).