NJDOT Direct Connection

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• published: 04 Jun 2013
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NJDOT Direct Connection Video Camden County, New Jersey Narrator In December of 2001, the NJDOT began the process with a blank slate. Initially, staff members identified the specific purpose and need of the project, pinpointing exactly why the roadway was deficient and what needed to be improved in order to develop the safest, most efficient, and sensible design possible to optimize traveling conditions for motorists. Craig Johnson, Project Manager, Dewberry The project is really an interchange improvement project. Basically, what is missing today is that there is not a direct connection carrying 295-northbound or 295-southbound through the interchange. Each of the roadways lead to a ramp network at the interchange and connect to Route 42 or into I-76. The proposed project will maintain the six-lane roadway, three lanes both northbound and southbound directly through the interchange and then maintain all the other ramp movements to the other roadways. Bruce Reigel, Project Manager, NJDOT There's a lot of accidents and traffic congestion out there. This interchange is one of the worst interchanges in South Jersey, and one of top three worst interchanges in New Jersey as far as traffic congestion, accident history, so there was a big push to get this project moving and get it constructed to improve the quality of life of a lot of folks down there. Narrator Alternative D begins in the vicinity of the Grimlock Secondary Railroad Bridge over I-295. Mainline I-295 shifts slightly south and elevates to a third level viaduct over Browning Road and Route 42 and a second level viaduct over Ramp C. The roadway meets existing I-295 pavement north of the Creek Road Overpass. The I-295 Alternative D alignment crosses I-76/Route 42 at a skew through an unused area of New Saint Mary's Cemetery. At long last the project begins to take shape. The design team reevaluates the findings of the environmental impact statement and work to secure the permits that will be necessary to construct the selected Alternative, including environmental permits and access permits. The project team is focused on acquiring the right of way that would be required for all construction activities. With the design phase complete, preparations begin to transition the project into construction, bringing the state one step closer to making the Direct Connect a reality. Kim Guadagno, Lieutenant Governor, New Jersey I look forward to this project take place. I do want to mention one thing, progress is sometimes painful, there will be nine years of construction work in this area, but if I know Jim Simpson, I know he will make every effort to work around construction projects, make projects work around our daily lives so that there is the least amount of disruption as is humanly possible. This project will improve the quality of life of everyone. It can only be described as an effort to make the roads safe, an effort to improve our quality of life, an effort to bring businesses and keep businesses in New Jersey and I suspect it will be successful.