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[jeffandnicole]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1501331650207087&id=221625028177762

I-295 northbound and Route 42 lane closures next week to continue installation of temporary Browning Road Bridge; Alternating traffic necessary on Browning Road during bridge installation
 
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced on Aug. 2 lane closures on I-295 northbound and Route 42, as well as alternating traffic on Browning Road next week for the second stage of the temporary Browning Road Bridge launch as part of the Direct Connection project in Bellmawr.

One night next week between Monday, August 9 and Thursday, August 12, depending on the weather, NJDOT’s contractor, South State, Inc. is scheduled to close I-295 northbound Exit 26 and the left lane on Route 42 in both directions from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next day.

The closures are necessary to access the center pier of the temporary bridge during second stage of the launch.

The lanes will reopen past the Browning Road Bridge over Route 42. If work is completed earlier, the lanes will reopen sooner.
 
In addition to the lane closures, between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., the NJ State Police will implement traffic slowdowns and temporary 15-minute stoppages, which could be up to 30-minutes, while the temporary bridge is being moved into place.

To facilitate the slowdowns and reduce time for a complete stoppage, the nearest on-ramps will be closed briefly by NJ State Police during the slowdowns.
 
The westbound lane on Browning Road also will be closed between Ivy Ridge Road and Victory Drive with alternating traffic using the eastbound lane between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.

The closure is necessary to provide a buffer while the temporary bridge is pushed into place. NJDOT will provide advanced public notice with the specific night before the closures take place.
 
The temporary bridge is located north of the existing bridge and carry two lanes of traffic, pedestrians, and utilities during construction of the new Browning Road Bridge. It is being assembled in three main sections.  As each section is completed, it will be pushed or launched into place.
 
This is the second of three stages to move the temporary bridge into position.

The first stage was completed on Friday, July 30 and moved the bridge about 100 feet over the east abutment, stopping short of Route 42 northbound travel lanes.

This second stage will extend the temporary bridge across all of Route 42 northbound to the center pier in the median and partially over the Route 42 southbound lanes. 

The third push will extend the temporary bridge across all lanes of Route 42 northbound and southbound to the west abutment.
 
After the entire temporary bridge is installed, there will be several additional weeks of work before traffic is shifted from the existing bridge to the temporary bridge.

This includes completing the approaches, installing deck panels, securing utilities, and completing the pedestrian walkway.

The temporary bridge is expected to be in service in the fall.
 
Once traffic is on the temporary bridge, the demolition of the existing bridge and construction of new median piers can begin. 

The demolition will be conducted overnight to minimize impacts to traffic.

The temporary bridge is expected to be in use for approximately 18 months.

[ekt8750]

Any idea when they're going to fix the damage caused by the cave-in earlier this year?

[jeffandnicole]

Any idea when they're going to fix the damage caused by the cave-in earlier this year?

At least publicly, they haven't acknowledged what caused the collapse, or where they are in the investigation.

The collapsed roadway is the future Southbound 295 which isn't scheduled to open until contract 4, so they still technically have 5+ years to deal with it.

[mvak36]

I apologize if this has already been mentioned upthread, but it looks like they've updated the project site since the last time I looked: https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/rt295/

[jeffandnicole]

The final push (at least I believe it will be the final push) of the temporary Browning Road overpass is now scheduled for Thu night, 11pm to 4am Fri morning.

[jeffandnicole]

Part of the Missing Moves project: The new Creek Road overpass will open the weekend.

A bit unusual for this project will be the full weekend closure of Creek Road, in order to expedite the transition.

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/uploads/comm/news/details/comm_np_20210826_103436_CreekRoadtobeclosedthisweekendasMissingMovesprojectadvancesinCamdenCounty.pdf

[02 Park Ave]

I wish that they had included a map.

[bzakharin]

Part of the Missing Moves project: The new Creek Road overpass will open the weekend.

A bit unusual for this project will be the full weekend closure of Creek Road, in order to expedite the transition.

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/uploads/comm/news/details/comm_np_20210826_103436_CreekRoadtobeclosedthisweekendasMissingMovesprojectadvancesinCamdenCounty.pdf

So the missing moves project will now be complete before the direct connect project? How would it work around the temporary NJ 42 to I-295 North ramp?

[jeffandnicole]

Part of the Missing Moves project: The new Creek Road overpass will open the weekend.

A bit unusual for this project will be the full weekend closure of Creek Road, in order to expedite the transition.

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/uploads/comm/news/details/comm_np_20210826_103436_CreekRoadtobeclosedthisweekendasMissingMovesprojectadvancesinCamdenCounty.pdf

So the missing moves project will now be complete before the direct connect project? How would it work around the temporary NJ 42 to I-295 North ramp?

Way before.

The Missing Moves should be mostly completed in late 2023.  Even before the latest setbacks, the Direct Connection was looking at a 2024 completion date, and it's now been pushed back to 2027 or 2028!

The Missing Moves is basically fully south and west of the Direct Connection - at least 1/4 to 1/2 mile or more, so the two projects really don't interfere with each other.   The only impacts I'm aware of is for some overhead signage, which they've worked around as they built the missing moves' ramps.

BTW, due to storms expected this weekend, the Creek Road overpass will remain open this weekend and they'll work on the conversion in the future.

[danlb_2000]

The temporary Browning Road overpass was moved into it's final position this week. It will take a few more months to put down the road deck, re-route utilities and finish the approaches before they can start the re-construction of the existing overpass.

https://i295directconnection.blogspot.com/2021/08/browning-road-overpass-move-3.html

[jeffandnicole]

Part of the Missing Moves project: The new Creek Road overpass will open the weekend.

A bit unusual for this project will be the full weekend closure of Creek Road, in order to expedite the transition.

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/uploads/comm/news/details/comm_np_20210826_103436_CreekRoadtobeclosedthisweekendasMissingMovesprojectadvancesinCamdenCounty.pdf

Delayed from its original construction date by 2 weeks due to weather, they were met with incredibly nice weather this past weekend. While the closure timeline provided them to have the switch-over complete by 5am Monday, it was open sometime Saturday afternoon or evening.

Coming from the Brooklawn area (US 130), motorist are met with what appears to be an incredibly steep hill to meet the new bridge.  In my rough estimation, the new overpass is at least 6 feet higher than the previous bridge, partially because the former bridge was too low for modern clearance standards, plus the new bridge also has to accommodate the 42 North to 295 South ramp which is still on a downslope under the overpass.

[jeffandnicole]

In a letter from NJDOT to local politicians, the root cause of the collapse still hasn't been fully determined, but they have a good idea what happened.

https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/interstates-295-76-route-42-interchange-south-jersey-retaining-wall-collapse-20211019.html

[ekt8750]

The beams for the flyover ramp from NB NJ42 to SB I-295 are going up. I would expect an overnight shutdown of 42 soon sometime after the holidays to erect the beams over the roadway.

[famartin]

The beams for the flyover ramp from NB NJ42 to SB I-295 are going up. I would expect an overnight shutdown of 42 soon sometime after the holidays to erect the beams over the roadway.

Cool.

I feel like this topic title should be edited slightly to include that project, since they are sort of interrelated. (Direct connection technically is just the thru lanes for I-295 ("direct connection")). Maybe something along the line of "295/76/42 interchange projects"

[jeffandnicole]

The beams for the flyover ramp from NB NJ42 to SB I-295 are going up. I would expect an overnight shutdown of 42 soon sometime after the holidays to erect the beams over the roadway.

Got a ways to go before that can happen - they haven't built the bridge pier in the median to support the beams going over 42.

It should be noted that NJDOT generally avoids full overnight closures, as the resulting traffic generally would go thru residential areas (even on state routes). They generally will do traffic stoppages of 20 minutes or so to allow time to place the beam in place. While that beam is secured and the next beam is prepared, traffic can flow thru the work site.

The work they've done recently is impressive though. Along with the bridge beams put in place alongside 42 North, the ramps to/from Benigno Blvd are getting their base pavement layers paved. "Traffic Light Ahead" signage with flashy yellow warning lights, solar powered, have been installed for the 42 North to Benigno Blvd ramp.

I believe the plan is to have these ramps open, then shift traffic to the right to allow the contractor to set up a work zone in the median to construct that missing pier to complete the overpass ramp.

I feel like this topic title should be edited slightly to include that project, since they are sort of interrelated. (Direct connection technically is just the thru lanes for I-295 ("direct connection")). Maybe something along the line of "295/76/42 interchange projects"

Let me see what I can do.

[bluecountry]

1. Can somebody show me a diagram to why the interchange was pre-project and what it is to be post?
2. How did this come to be that I-295 basically is two different interstates at the junction?
3. Why didn't I-76 just continue on the 42 route and terminate in AC?

[famartin]

I feel like this topic title should be edited slightly to include that project, since they are sort of interrelated. (Direct connection technically is just the thru lanes for I-295 ("direct connection")). Maybe something along the line of "295/76/42 interchange projects"

Let me see what I can do.

 

[famartin]

1. Can somebody show me a diagram to why the interchange was pre-project and what it is to be post?
2. How did this come to be that I-295 basically is two different interstates at the junction?
3. Why didn't I-76 just continue on the 42 route and terminate in AC?

Regarding question 2, there are a couple factors.
1 - They were trying to squeeze I-295 in between developed portions of multiple small towns.
2 - They believed that the main flow of traffic would be from outlying suburbs towards the bridges to Philly, and vice-versa. The idea of heavy local thru traffic wasn't anticipated completely. I call it "local" to differentiate from regional thru traffic which is more likely to use the nearby turnpike (but as we all know, there are a decent number of shunpikers using I-295, too).

[famartin]

1. Can somebody show me a diagram to why the interchange was pre-project and what it is to be post?
2. How did this come to be that I-295 basically is two different interstates at the junction?
3. Why didn't I-76 just continue on the 42 route and terminate in AC?

Regarding the second part of question 1:
https://vtour.123bim.com/RAASV/vtour.html

[jeffandnicole]

1. Can somebody show me a diagram to why the interchange was pre-project and what it is to be post?
2. How did this come to be that I-295 basically is two different interstates at the junction?
3. Why didn't I-76 just continue on the 42 route and terminate in AC?

1.  To be honest, the interchange today isn't all that much different than what it was pre-construction.  Maybe the most significant difference is I-295 North Traffic curves into a tunnel with the I-76 EB to I-295 NB traffic meeting on the left side.  Previously, I-295 NB traffic curved under the former 76 EB to 295 NB ramp, and the ramp met the 295 North mainline on the right.  I looked at the NJDOT page for this project and didn't really see anything at quick glance as to how the interchange looked pre-construction.  Feel free to review it at https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/rt295/ .  The www.historicaerials.com website can provide you with some good images if you look at 2013 and prior as well, and GSV can provide views from the roadway pre-construction.

2.   The people that made that decision are long since retired or dead, so the history of how this interchange came to be is lost due to time. famartin explained it pretty well, but to add to that, I-76 also was split into 'Express' and 'Local' lanes.  Going towards Philly on I-76, the left lane of NJ 42 and the left lane of I-295 North formed the I-76 Westbound Express Lanes, which forced motorists onto the Walt Whitman Expressway with no option to exit in NJ (a small opening in the low curb barrier near the start between the Expressway/Local roadway existed for some ill-planned reason).  Coming off the Walt Whitman Bridge, the left 2 lanes forced traffic onto the I-76 Eastbound Express Lanes, with their only option to take I-295 South or NJ 42 South. 

The I-76 EB Express/Local barrier was eliminated in the late 1990's as part of a project to widen NJ 42 between 295 & NJ 55.  As part of that same project, the I-76 West barrier was shortened in the late 1990's so motorists could access I-676 from the Express lanes, and eliminated completely at the start of the current 295/76/42 project between 2013-2015.

But, as previously mentioned, it all indicated that the belief was traffic was heavily destined to go to/from Philly.  And while that may have been true thru the 1970's, by the time the 1980's were here, it was becoming obvious that, A) Dragging 295 traffic thru the interchange via tight, non-interstate standard curves was a mistake, using 40 mph advisory signage for the curves was a fatal mistake for many, and 35 mph Speed Limit signs were put up to attempt to slow traffic down, and B) commercial/industrial businesses were popping up in NJ, and county-county traffic was getting heavier.  35 years later...and we're where we're at now.

3.  The original Interstate Highway Act basically ended Interstate Highways at other Interstates (not in all cases, but most).  In this case, I-76 was planned to end at I-295.  NJ decided to build NJ 42 as a highway/freeway to continue I-76 further into South Jersey.  A better, faster route to the shore was desired, and the South Jersey Highway Authority was born to build the AC Expressway (this, btw, was well before casinos were approved for Atlantic City).  While in other states they would prefer to post Interstate shields on these routes, NJ never had any such ambition. 

It should be notable that many people that wonder why NJ doesn't post I-76 all the way to AC, rarely if ever brings up the fact that the Garden State Parkway could also be an Interstate Highway, from Exit 98 (I-195) to Exit 0 (Cape May) and could literally be a continuation of I-195 without any need to rectify the current exit numbering on 195.  The very short piece of NJ 34 South that would be needed is practically Interstate-ready, with just a bit of a modification needed with CR 30 that intersections with 34.

[NJRoadfan]

The 295N to 42S ramp basically hugs a warehouse. I don't know how they got away with building it that close. Bridge construction is viable over the NJ Turnpike, but I really didn't get a good look since it was dark out.

[jeffandnicole]

The 295N to 42S ramp basically hugs a warehouse. I don't know how they got away with building it that close. Bridge construction is viable over the NJ Turnpike, but I really didn't get a good look since it was dark out.

Best I can tell, the warehouse was there before 295, but expanded in the rear up against their property line after 295 was built (which in itself is often not permitted now due to numerous issues, including fire vehicle access).  295 right of way is right against that property line.  I'm guessing with Bellmawr's approval, NJDOT purchased the empty lot (which appeared to be used for truck parking) between the buildings, which happened to have just enough room to get the ramps thru there.  This is construction similar to what would normally be found in cities, not suburban areas, but since it's warehouses and not homes, the existing property owners were probably more accommodating.

Also of note...this was not the original routing of the ramps.  They were going to go to the south/east of Creek Road, impacting more of the old landfill in that area.  The property owner, which wants to build a shopping center in that area, was able to work with NJDOT to move the ramps to where they're now being built.

On 42 itself, there won't be any widening of the roadway over the Turnpike and the nearby creek.  Related to the above, I believe some of the original designs did involve widening 42 over the Turnpike and creek, but ultimately, they determined there was enough room within the existing footprint of 42 to add a lane on Rt. 42 North coming off of Route 55 to eliminate the need to widen 42.  On 42 South, the ramp will merge in via a typical acceleration lane that ends, not a continuous lane to 55.

[danlb_2000]

The 295N to 42S ramp basically hugs a warehouse. I don't know how they got away with building it that close. Bridge construction is viable over the NJ Turnpike, but I really didn't get a good look since it was dark out.

Best I can tell, the warehouse was there before 295, but expanded in the rear up against their property line after 295 was built (which in itself is often not permitted now due to numerous issues, including fire vehicle access).  295 right of way is right against that property line.  I'm guessing with Bellmawr's approval, NJDOT purchased the empty lot (which appeared to be used for truck parking) between the buildings, which happened to have just enough room to get the ramps thru there.  This is construction similar to what would normally be found in cities, not suburban areas, but since it's warehouses and not homes, the existing property owners were probably more accommodating.

Also of note...this was not the original routing of the ramps.  They were going to go to the south/east of Creek Road, impacting more of the old landfill in that area.  The property owner, which wants to build a shopping center in that area, was able to work with NJDOT to move the ramps to where they're now being built.

On 42 itself, there won't be any widening of the roadway over the Turnpike and the nearby creek.  Related to the above, I believe some of the original designs did involve widening 42 over the Turnpike and creek, but ultimately, they determined there was enough room within the existing footprint of 42 to add a lane on Rt. 42 North coming off of Route 55 to eliminate the need to widen 42.  On 42 South, the ramp will merge in via a typical acceleration lane that ends, not a continuous lane to 55.

Another interesting area is the building at the corner Leaf and Harding Ave. I orginally assumed that they would be demolishing it but it now looks like the ramp will go over the building.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/WwgySQgpbDtkPiCz9
What, out of curiosity, is the purpose of the traffic signal here?

[bzakharin]

https://goo.gl/maps/WwgySQgpbDtkPiCz9
What, out of curiosity, is the purpose of the traffic signal here?

It's apparently standard practice for tunnels in NJ. The lights are meant to turn red if there is an incident inside the tunnel. I'm not clear on whether all lights would turn red or only the one(s) above the lane(s) affected.