Route 30 drainage improvement project
along the Cooper River begins in Camden

(Trenton) - NJDOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts and local officials today broke ground on a drainage improvement and road resurfacing project on Route 30 (Admiral Wilson Boulevard) along the Cooper River in Camden City and Pennsauken Township, Camden County.

The $7.8 million project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will benefit motorists and residents by reducing flooding and the need for traffic detours onto local streets.

“This project demonstrates how our commitment to improving roads and creating jobs is paying dividends now by boosting the economy through our $3.6 billion transportation capital program, one of the most aggressive in state history,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine. “Currently, we have more than 200 transportation and transit-related projects in progress all over the state that are helping families right now as we work and build our way toward economic recovery.”

Route 30 westbound is an important entranceway into Camden City and provides direct access towards Cooper University Hospital. This project addresses a functionally obsolete drainage system which has been responsible nearly 80 road closure incidents on Route 30 over the last four years.

“By improving drainage and eliminating flooding and icing hazards, this project will enhance safety along this stretch of Route 30,” said Transportation Commissioner Stephen Dilts. “Reducing the number of closures on Route 30 due to flooding will help alleviate the impact to local roads in Camden City and Pennsauken, as well.”

NJDOT will install a new drainage system between milepost 2.10 and 3.05 along with four new outfalls into Cooper River. NJDOT will also construct an earth berm to prevent high tide from reaching the local ramps. Once NJDOT has completed the drainage improvements, the roadway will then be resurfaced to provide a smoother driving surface. The project is anticipated to be complete in fall 2010.

Earlier this week, NJDOT closed the right lane on Route 30 eastbound as construction began on a project to improve the drainage system along Route 30 in order to facilitate better drainage of storm-water from the roadway. NJDOT will maintain three lanes of traffic on Route 30 eastbound during the daytime. NJDOT will also construct temporary traffic signals on Baird Boulevard in the vicinity of Route 30.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of any upcoming traffic pattern changes on Route 30. NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.