Route 295 southbound traffic shift planned for this weekend in Burlington County

(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that I-295 southbound traffic will be shifted onto the northbound roadway in Burlington County this weekend in conjunction with an ongoing roadway reconstruction project.

I-295 northbound traffic was shifted onto the northbound lanes last weekend. I-295 provides two lanes in each direction within the project limits at this time, down from the normal three lanes in each direction.

Over the weekend of August 6 - 8, I-295 southbound traffic will be shifted to the northbound side and reconstruction of the southbound highway will begin. Several southbound ramp closures and detour routes will also take effect over the weekend.

The Route 130 southbound ramp access to I-295 southbound at Interchange 57 will be closed for approximately two months.

• Motorists will be detoured onto Route 206 southbound to Interchange 56 (Rising Sun Road) to Route 295 southbound. This detour will last approximately 5-8 weeks.

The I-295 southbound ramps to and from Florence-Columbus Road (CR 656) at Interchange 52 will be closed for approximately three weeks.

• I-295 southbound motorists seeking access to Florence-Columbus Road will be detoured to Burlington-Mt. Holly Road to I-295 northbound.

• Florence-Columbus Road motorists seeking access to I-295 southbound can either take I-295 northbound to Interchange 56 (Rising Sun Road) to I-295 southbound or take Route 130 southbound to access I-295 at Interchange 47.

NJDOT is rehabilitating an 11-mile stretch of I-295 from Rancocas to Bordentown in Burlington County. The $85 million project, which also includes repairing 12 bridge decks and installing new guide rail, is being accelerated with the goal of completion by the end of 2010.

Variable message signs will notify motorists of all upcoming traffic pattern changes. Motorists are encouraged to visit the I-295 Construction website or NJDOT'a traffice information website at www.511nj.org, for travel times and project updates.