The long-awaited reconstruction of the Interstates 295/76 and NJ 42 in Camden County, N.J. near Philadelphia (NJDOT) interchange broke ground last month. The 9 year project will is expected to cost $900 million to eliminate I-295 having to briefly merge onto the North-South Freeway which is I-76 north of the interchange and NJ 42 south of the interchange. The improved I-295 will be elevated over the North-South Freeway with less severe curves then presently. Approximately 250,000 vehicles a day travel through the interchange. Apparently, I-295 north won’t be moved to the new viaduct until 2018 with southbound being moved there in 2019. All lanes will be maintained during the project.
I’ve been going through that interchange for most of my life (though not lately) and it was often backed up. At best, I-295 thru traffic needed to slow down to 35 MPH going through the interchange which is undesirable. However, when some vehicles failed to heed the slower speed, especially headed south into the 270° “Al-Jo curve” (named for the former diner at that spot) the results could be devastating, if not fatal.
Here is another video from NJ Today:
ERRATA
One thing I always liked about this interchange were the gigantic sharp left turn arrow signs (aaroads.com photo) with yellow lights that increased from right to left before flashing twice in unison. You can see it in the video below, starting at about 0:37:
The interchange is also one of the last places in New Jersey to get button-copy (embedded reflectors in letters) signs in the late 1990s.
I-76’s eastern terminus is at this interchange, but if it were up to me, the interstate numbering would replace NJ 42 and be extended down the Atlantic City Expressway all the way to Atlantic City.
MORE NEWS LINKS
$900 million road-construction project begins in Bellmawr – Courier Post (Cherry Hilly)
N. J. officials open $900 million project for I-295 snarl – The Inky
HISTORY
I-76 | I-295 | NJ 42 – phillyroads.com
PHOTO GALLERY: A look back: 295 – Courier Post (Cherry Hilly)
This gallery (linked off of the New Jersey Roads Facebook group) is what reminded me to look into the interchange reconstruction.
Highway markers courtesy of Shields Up!