Photo Update 2/9/2014

Permanent retaining walls have started to go up along 295N right before the Al-Jo curve. They have also started to backfill this area to bring it back up road level.

42 North between the 295 north bound ramps. Permanent retaining walls are in the works. The tower on the left side of the picture will eventually support a new overpass.

The new interim 295 ramp from 42 has finally opened.

interim 295 ramp with another overpass support.

Picture taken from Creek Road of work going on in the 42 median right before the 295 north bound ramp. Since this picture was taken they have started to install sheet pile along the side of the 295 ramp.

Work along Creek Road. This might be the support for the temporary pedestrian overpass that is going to be built. This will be needed when they start re-constructing the Creek Road overpass.

Work along Essex Ave between 295 Northbound and Southbound lanes.

Work along Essex Ave between 295 Northbound and Southbound lanes.

NJDirectConnection.com

NJDot has a put up a very nice web site all about the direct connect project, http://njdirectconnection.com/. This site provides a lot of information on the project, construction updates, and new releases. It also has a very nice interactive map where you can see what will be involved in each phase of the project.

 

Pictures 1/12/2014

Here are two pictures of the work going on along Essex ave. This gap between the north and south bound lanes of 295 will eventually get closed up to accommodate the new 295 overpass.

 

New permanent retaining wall along 42 north between the 295 ramps

 

 

Another picture of the new retaining wall. The concrete structure on the left will eventually be a support column for the new 295 overpass.

Photo Update 12/7

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.

Construction Activities

NJDOT has posted a new list of construction activities for the next couple months.

 

Construction Activities

November 2013 to January 2014*

Route 42 from Creek Road to Browning Road

• Construction and completion of new 60" drainage pipe and 18" sanitary main that cross under Route 42

  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.

• Construction of ground improvements for retaining wall and embankment areas
• Construction of retaining wall foundations and portions of retaining walls and noise barriers
• Continued construction and opening of new interim ramp from Route 42 northbound to I-295 northbound

  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.

• Construction of temporary pedestrian bridge across Route 42 for Creek Road pedestrians
• Construction of new overhead sign structures

I-295 from Creek Road to Route 42

• Construction of center portion of new I-295 bridge over Essex Avenue

I-295 from Route 42 to Route 168

• Construction of ground improvements for retaining wall and embankment areas
• Construction of retaining wall foundations and portions of retaining walls on I-295 southbound
• Construction of culvert extension at Al-Jo's curve

Creek Road

• Utility relocations (ongoing)
• Construction of new sanitary sewer, east of Route 42
• Construction of new traffic signals at the intersections with Harding Avenue and at Edgewood Avenue. Includes new curb and sidewalk.

Edgewood Avenue

• Construction of drainage facilities near Creek Road intersection
• Restriping roadway to a three-lane section near Creek Road intersection

Bell Road

• Utility relocations (ongoing)
• Construction of northern half of Bell Road bridge. Southern half remains with one-lane traffic signal operation. (ongoing)

 

February 2014 to April 2014*

Route 42 from Creek Road to Browning Road

• Construction and completion of retaining wall foundations and portions of retaining walls and noise barriers

I-295 from Creek Road to Route 42

• Continued construction of center portion of new I-295 roadway and I-295 bridge over Essex Avenue

I-295 from Route 42 to Route 168

• Construction of retaining wall foundations and portions of retaining walls on I-295 southbound

Creek Road

• Utility relocations (ongoing)
• Completion of new traffic signals at the intersections with Harding Avenue and at Edgewood Avenue.
• Construction of northern half of Creek Road bridge. Southern half remains with two-way traffic operation. (ongoing)

Bell Road

• Utility relocations (ongoing)
• Construction of southern half of Bell Road bridge. New northern half used with one-lane traffic signal operation. (ongoing)

Browning Road/Fir Place

• Completion of roadway work along Fir Place
• Construction of new sanitary sewer pump station on Browning Road

 

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.

Bell Road Bridge 11/14/2013

The steel in now in place on the Bell Road bridge and preliminary work has started on the bridge deck.

42 North Interim Ramp

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.