Commissioner Fox announces
major I-295 reconstruction project

"This $65 million project to repair I-295 between Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel is an embodiment of our Fix-It-First approach," Commissioner Fox said. "This highway, built more than 40 years ago, sees 90,000 cars daily, and constant wear and tear has caused stress on the roadway and stress for motorists, too."

"We will be replacing deteriorated pavement and bridges, and installing state-of the-art technologies to alert motorists to road construction and congestion. Design work is under way and construction will start by the end of this year."

"I would like to thank Commissioner Fox and NJDOT staff for their commitment to this important project," Assemblyman Louis Greenwald said. "We in South Jersey view I-295 as integral to our mobility, ease of access, and quality of life. NJDOT's project ensures that the service life of this roadway is extended well into the future."

The project is scheduled for contract award in October 2002, with construction to begin in December 2002. Completion is anticipated by December 2004. Final design is currently underway. The project limits are from south of County Route 561-Berlin-Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill Township, Camden County to just north of Route 38 in Mount Laurel Township, Burlington County.

Bridge structures over Route 70 north and southbound will be replaced, as well as the I-295 northbound structure over Church Street and the I-295 southbound structure over Church Road. Additionally, $2.5 million is allocated for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) work which includes the following: five closed-circuit cameras to monitor the highway for emergencies, and congestion, from NJDOT's Traffic Operations Center in Cherry Hill; two electronic signs to provide commuters with highway information; Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors to measure traffic volumes and speed, and installation of WIMS (Weigh-in-motion stations) to measure truck weights without unduly slowing traffic.

On a 1-mile strip of I-295 in Cherry Hill, NJDOT will test a new process known as rubblization, which can cut construction time. Rubblization involves a machine that crushes the old road pavement into small pieces so that it can easily be paved over. This is a first for New Jersey.

Interstate 295 extends a total of 68.06 miles from Pennsville Township in Salem County to Lawrence Township in Mercer County. The two outer lanes of the southern section of I-295 in Cherry Hill were built in 1961 and 1962. All three lanes of the northern section located in Mount Laurel were built in 1964. The northbound and southbound inner lanes of the southern section in Cherry Hill were added in 1970. There are 13 major bridge structures within the limits of this project.

The NJDOT Operations Center in Cherry Hill is a state-of-the-art facility that utilizes computerized traffic signal systems and video monitoring of traffic conditions, and controls electronic message signs and highway advisory radios throughout South Jersey. In addition, all coordination and oversight of maintenance work, emergency operations, incident management, and winter storm efforts are done in this facility.