NJDOT to improve Route 45 and Swedesboro/Franklinville Road

intersection in South Harrison Township

(Trenton) – Commissioner Stephen Dilts today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will begin a project to reduce congestion and increase safety at the intersection of Route 45 and Swedesboro/Franklinville Road (County Route 538) in South Harrison Township, Gloucester County.

“Improving this intersection will make Route 45 in South Harrison safer for the residents who use this road on a daily basis,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine.

Starting Monday, March 2, NJDOT will begin utility relocation work at the intersection. The utility work will require temporary daytime shoulder closures on Route 45. NJDOT does not anticipate direct impacts to traffic until mid-April, when the traffic signal installation and roadway widening work will begin at Route 45 and Swedesboro/Franklinville Road.

Beginning in mid-April, Route 45 will be closed from County Route 538 to west of Harrisonville-Mullica Hill Road (County Route 617). County Route 617 will also be closed south of Route 45. The roadway closures will be in place for approximately thirty-five days. The following detours will be in place during the roadway closures:

• Route 45 westbound car traffic will be detoured to County Route 538 and proceed to County Route 607, which intersects with Route 45 west of the closure.
  
• Truck traffic will be detoured on County Route 538 to Route 77 southbound, to Ferrell Road, to County Route 694 and back to Route 45.
  
• Route 45 eastbound car traffic will take County Route 607 and turn right onto County Route 538, which intersects with Route 45.
  
• Truck traffic will take County Route 694 to Ferrell Road, to Route 77 northbound, to County Route 538, and back to Route 45.

NJDOT’s $819,971 project will provide a new traffic signal at the intersection of Route 45 and Swedesboro/Franklinville Road and widen the roadways in order to improve the turning movements. The project will also widen the roadways at the Route 45 and Mullica Hill Road intersection to improve the turning movements, and improve the sight distance on Route 45 near County Route 617. In addition, NJDOT will improve the existing drainage system at Route 45 and Mullica Hill Road. The project is scheduled for completion in October 2009.

NJDOT will utilize variable message signs on Route 45 to inform motorists of any change in traffic patterns during construction. Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org.