U.S. 322
U.S. 322 is one of three US routes leading west from Atlantic City to the Delaware River through South Jersey. The route starts alongside U.S. 40 at the intersection of Atlantic and Pacific Avenues in Atlantic City. Traveling 12.5 miles west through Pleasantville and Egg Harbor township, the two split at Hamilton township with U.S. 40 turning west to Mays Landing and U.S. 322 remaining more northeasterly to Folsom.
Most of U.S. 322 through South Jersey consists of a four-lane highway. The route provides a viable through route to Atlantic City from the Philadelphia area via Glassboro and Williamstown. Improvements to the route further west include the Mullica Hill bypass, a two-lane alignment circumventing the previous overlap between U.S. 322 and NJ 45 through Mullica Hill. The 1.5 mile route opened on January 11, 2012 after four years of ROW acquisition and construction at a cost of $16 million.1
U.S. 322 exits New Jersey across the Commodore John Barry Bridge to Chester, Pennsylvania. The cantilever bridge opened on February 1, 1974 to replace a ferry service between Bridgewater, NJ and Delaware County, PA. Tolls are levied in the westbound direction.
East
U.S. 322 lowers from the Commodore Barry Bridge toward Gloucester County, and the community of Bridgeport.
10/04/14
U.S. 322 joins Southeastern Pennsylvania with I-295, the New Jersey Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway.
10/04/04
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) office is located by the toll plaza collecting fares along U.S. 322 west in a half mile.
10/04/14
U.S. 322 converges with U.S. 130 at Bridgeport south of the Commodore Barry Bridge. U.S. 130 expands to a four lane highway east from Oldmans Creek through Logan township and a freeway from the cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 322 to I-295 north.
10/04/14
Sign replacements at the former eastbound toll plaza replaced Trenton with Camden for U.S. 130/I-295 north and added Route 44. Route 44 (Crown Point Road) leads east along what was U.S. 130 from Bridgeport to Gibbstown and Paulsboro.
10/04/04
U.S. 130 combines with I-295 north two miles north of U.S. 322. I-295/U.S. 130 overlap for ten miles between Gibbstown and Westville.
10/04/04
Reducing to two lanes, U.S. 322 continues south from U.S. 130 to Swedesboro and Mullica Hill. The exchange with the New Jersey Turnpike is eight miles away followed by Glassboro in 22 miles.
09/19/04
Forthcoming I-295 crosses Raccoon Creek south from U.S. 322 to Pureland Industrial Park. Encompassing 3,000 acres, the site offer a variety of facilities for offices, manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, distribution, research and development.
09/19/04
West
Entering the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 295 on U.S. 322 west in Logan township. I-295 combines with U.S. 130 two miles to the north ahead of Gibbstown. The freeway continues easterly to Paulsboro, Woodbury, Westville, Bellmawr and Camden.
10/10/04
U.S. 322 continues north between I-295 and a cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 130 at Bridgeport. U.S. 130 connects with Pureland Industrial Park west from U.S. 322 via High Hill Road (CR 662) and Center Square Road (CR 620) south.
09/19/04
U.S. 322 upgrades from a rural two lane highway into an expressway at Bridgeport. U.S. 130 follows a freeway east to Route 44 (Crown Point Road) for Gibbstown and I-295 to Camden.
09/19/04
South from U.S. 322, U.S. 130 reduces to two lanes at a lift bridge crossing Oldmans Creek into Salem County. Penns Grove lies nine miles to the southwest.
09/19/04
Tolls are levied along U.S. 322 westbound across the Delaware River. The Commodore Barry Bridge replaced ferry service between Bridgeport and Chester, Pennsylvania when it opened in 1974.
09/19/04
U.S. 322 continues 3.2 miles north from the Commodore Barry Bridge toll plaza to Interstate 95 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
09/19/04
The Commodore John Barry Bridge includes a movable concrete barrier allowing for two or three westbound lanes. The cantilever span accommodates five overall lanes.
09/19/04
The Commodore Barry Bridge is 13,912 feet from abutment to abutment and is 76 feet 10 inches in width.2
09/19/04
Speed limits on the Commodore Barry Bridge vary depending upon traffic and weather conditions.
09/19/04
U.S. 322 enters Chester County, Pennsylvania midway across the Delaware River.
09/19/04
References:
- "Ribbon-cutting Wednesday for Route 322 bypass in Mullica Hill." Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), January 10, 2012.
- DRPA Bridges Commodore Barry Bridge. Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) web site.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman, Carter Buchanan: 10/04/04, 10/04/14
- Carter Buchanan: 09/19/04, 10/04/04, 10/10/04
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Page Updated Monday April 21, 2014.