Decking work has started on the Bell road overpass.
Another view of the Bell road overpass.
Retaining wall is going at the Essex Ave overpass between the North and Southbound lanes of I295.
Work still being done on the interim ramp from 42 North to 295 North.
Some parts for an overhead sign structure have shown up along the side of 42N just before Creek Rd.
This is the ramp from 42N to 295N. It appears that traffic is soon going to be moved to the left onto some newly paved road.
NJDOT has posted a new list of construction activities for the next couple months.
Construction Activities
Route 42 from Creek Road to Browning Road
Anticipated traffic changes:
Route 42 southbound traffic will be shifted to the left in the initial stage and then shifted to the right for the final stages.
I-295 southbound ramp traffic will be shifted to the right in the initial stages and then shifted to the left for the final stage.
Anticipated traffic changes:
Route 42 northbound: The opening of the new Interim Ramp AA, right after the Creek Road overpass, will allow Route 42 northbound traffic to access I-295 northbound without the weaving traffic that existed before.
I-295 from Creek Road to Route 42
I-295 from Route 42 to Route 168
Creek Road
Edgewood Avenue
Bell Road
Route 42 from Creek Road to Browning Road
I-295 from Creek Road to Route 42
I-295 from Route 42 to Route 168
Creek Road
Bell Road
Browning Road/Fir Place
NOTE: Due to the need to maintain the existing number of traffic lanes during peak periods, there will be a significant amount of work to be done at night. Nighttime lane closures will occur periodically throughout construction.
*Timeframe is subject to contractor schedule and weather.
The steel in now in place on the Bell Road bridge and preliminary work has started on the bridge deck.
Work is progressing quickly on the new interim ramp from 42 North to 295 North. Here is a diagram of where this new ramp will be. This ramp will be used by anyone going North bound on 42 that wants to go North on 295. This will help alleviate alot of the weaving of traffic that now has happens at the end of the ramp that comes up from the southern portion of 295. This is being called an interim ramp because it will be there through multiple phases of the construction but will be removed at the end of the project. 42 North to 295 North will eventually be handled by a new ramp which will connect to the 295 mainline.
Here is a picture from 11/14 showing that asphalt has gone down on the new ramp.
Everything is in place to start setting the steel for the first half of the new Bell Road bridge. The work will be done overnight on 11/12/2013, 11/13 and 11/14. More details here:
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2013/110813.shtm
They have started to build the support pylons for the new Bell Rd bridge
The drainage work along the ramp to 295 south right after the Al-Jo curve appears to have wrapped up and they have re-opened the far right travel lane. They are now working in between the lanes from the Al-Jo curve and the south bound lanes from 676.
Another picture of that same area.
Essex Ave bridge work
This is the work going on along the ramp for 42 south to I-295 south. Taken from the ball fields.
Here are some pictures of the current work at Essex Ave. They are currently working on the area between the north and southbound lanes of 295. They have removed part of each of the bridges and have also demolished the concrete walls on either side of the road between the I-295 lanes.
10/7/2013
10/7/2013
10/11/2013
10/11/2013
As of last night, NJDOT’s contractor, PKF Mark III, has begun closing the local roadway - located just north of Creek Road – nightly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The overnight closures are anticipated to continue for approximately the next two weeks for this stage of work as the contractor demolishes a section of the I-295 overpass spanning Essex Avenue. The work zone on I-295 above Essex Avenue has been established with construction barrier so this work will not require any additional lane closures on I-295.
• Motorists on Creek Road destined for points north to I-295 will be directed to stay on Creek Road to Bell Road to W. Browning Road to Victory Drive to Essex Avenue.
• Motorists north of the bridge destined for Creek Road and points south of I-295 will be directed to use W. Browing Road to Bell Road to Creek Road.
• Cross County Connection has a map of the detour routes available here
The $160 million Direct Connection Contract 1 began construction in March, to address sections along I-295 south of Essex Avenue, along I-76 in the Market Street area, and along two Route 42 ramps. The Creek Road and Bell Road bridges are being replaced and several stretches of roadways will be temporarily widened to accommodate work under future contracts. Work under this first contract is expected to be completed in the summer of 2015.
The project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract in the fall of 2021. NJDOT’s project website provides construction activity schedules and updates.
Additional portable variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with Direct Connection. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2013/100113dc.shtm
42 North bound right before the 295 ramp
42 North bound right before the 295 ramp
Bell Road overpass, new support pier. You can forms for the side have been constructed.
295 South right before the Al-Jo curve.
Essex Avenue overpass
42 North just after the 295 merge
42 North just after the 295 merge
Bell Road overpass, new support pier.
Retaining wall work going on between the pond within the Al-Jo curve and 42 South
42 Southbound right before 295 Southbound
Retaining wall sheeting at the Essex Ave overpass.
Temporary retaining wall along 42 North.
Temporary retaining wall along 42 North.
Temporary retaining wall along 42 North.
Bell road overpass. You can see the forms being used the build the new concrete support. This is the I295 north bound side. The one on the other side is also being built and is a little behind this one in it’s construction.
Here is a map showing the current major work areas.
Red: The Bell Road bridge over 295 is being re-constructed. The half of the bridge nearest Rt 168 has been demolished and they have started to construct the new supports at either side of the bridge.
Yellow: Temporary retaining walls have been installed in this area in preparation for the construction of permanent walls.
Blue: Retaining wall construction.
Green: Temporary retaining walls have been constructed along here in preparation for the construction of permanent walls.
White: Retaining wall and drainage work.
Grey: Reconstruction of the bridge over Essex Ave has begun.
Here are some news article about the Direct Connection project.
2/21/2013 - Residents review massive project to improve I-295, I-76, Route 42 interchange
2/25/2013 - I-295, Route 42 interchange problems began in the 1950s
3/11/2013 - I-295, Route 42 interchange project breaks ground
3/11/2013 - Ground Is Broken To Make I-295 A ‘Direct Connection’ Through Bellmawr
3/21/2013 - Direct Connect Project, Realigning Routes 295/42/76, Gets Underway
5/4/2013 - Bellmawr residents close to I-295, I-76 overhaul describe 'nightmare' construction
I am not in the construction business but I have always been fascinated with it, especially with road construction. I find it particularly interesting when a major change need to be made to a road or intersection while still keeping the road usable. A project of this sort is just beginning in South Jersey and since I go through the construction area a lot I thought it would be interesting to document the process. Note that I am in no way an expert on this topic so these will just be my observations on the project.
So what is the goal of this project? Currently if you are going southbound on Interstate 295 you reach a point where the road splits with the left lanes taking you onto I76 towards Philadelphia. The right lanes go around a very sharp curve (often call the Al-Jo curve), momentarily join with I76/route 42 south, then go back onto I295 South bound. Coming north bound on I295 you run into a similar situation where the road momentarily joins with route 42 where you have to weave in with car coming north on Route 42 before the road continues north on I295.
Approximately 250,000 cars pass through this intersection every day (1) and the current configuration creates a major bottleneck and is the cause of many accidents. This project will correct this by creating a viaduct that will carry I295 over I76/Route 42 so that drivers will be able to go between the north and south sections of 295 without having to slow down or merge into another highway. Exit ramps will be constructed of reconfigured to make the connections between I295 and I76/Route 42.
Work began earlier this year and is scheduled to be complete in 2021.
More Information:
The NJDOT site about the project
Description of the changes that will be made during the project.
List of the current construction activities
(1) http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2013/03/i-295_route_42_interchange_pro.html
