Direct Connect July 2026

Last week the project reached a major milestone with the installation of the first steel beams over Browning road, thus linking the northern and southern portions of the project for the first time. These beams are part of the ramp from 42 North to 295 North.  

According to NJDOT this ramp and the southbound portion of the mainline overpass will be open to traffic within six to nine months. The northbound side will open at a later date, the original plan had it about a year after the southbound side. I will cover in another post why this piece has to come later. The full project is expected to be complete by 2032 since there are still a bunch of major elements still to be completed. 

Direct Connect July 2026

A couple more cross beams have been installed for the ramp from 42 North to 295 North.  

Direct Connect July 2026

The next cross beam for the ramp from 42 North to 295 North has been installed. 

 

You can see more of the cross beams staged in the area near the ramp from 295 South to 76 West.

Direct Connect June 2026

Move steel has been installed for the ramp from 42 North to 295 North. Long sections to connect the first cross beam to the second have been installed along with some small sections on the other side of the second cross beam.  \

Work is almost complete to cloe up of the gap in the retaining wall left by the temporary Browning Road Overpass. Panels are all in and the cap pieces have been installed. Just a small piece right next to the overpass left to me done. 

Direct Connect June 2026

 Work continues to close up the gap in the retaining wall left by the temporary Browning Road overpass. Looks like one more course of panels and then the top cap to complete this. 

The area next to Saint Joachim Parish is being used as a staging area for the retaining wall work. I assume this will be cleaned up once the retaining wall work is complete. 

This is a picture of the northern portion of the new mainline overpass. Steel had been installed here a couple month ago and currently the concrete bridge deck is being poured. 

The next sections of steel have been staged between the north and south bound lanes of 42, I expect these to be installed soon. 

Direct Connect June 2026

 Over the past few weeks more steel has been installed for the 295 main line overpass and connecting ramps. Here are some pictures of the ramp that will carry traffic from 42 North to 295 North. The ground based portion of this was built back in the early days of the project, this now starts the aerial portion. 

These pictures show the second cross bean spanning the north bound lanes of 42. This will soon get connected tot he ramp shown in the first set of pictures. 

A temporary support column for another part of the steel installation.

Here is a look at part of the main line overpass. Work is being done to prepare for the installation of the bridge deck. 

The southern portion of the main line overpass. Work is currently being done to prepare it for paving. 

Direct Connet May 2026

 

Over the weekend a new traffic pattern was put in place on 76 East / 42 South. Three lanes going to 42 South have been shifted to the right and along with a single lane coming off the Al-Jo curve they now pass under the new 295 mainline overpass that has been built over the past few months. The single lane from 76 East to 295 South has also been shifted to the right and joins back to the ramp closer to 42. 

I believe these lane shifts are needed to make room for the installation of the remaining steel for the 295 mainline overpass.

42Freeway has posted a great video that shows a drive through of the new pattern along with aerial views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYX3IL97gjM

Here are some of my photos driving through the new pattern. 

On the right are the two lanes from the Al-Jo curve going to 295 South, in the middle is the lane from the Al-Jo curve going to 42 South, and on the left are the lanes from from 76 East.

Another thing to note is that recently a crane has appeared ont he small piece of ramp which will eventually carry 42 North traffic to 295 North. This likely means that installation of steel for that ramp will start soon.