Interstate 295 southbound traffic shift
planned on Al-Jo Curve at I-76/Route 42 Interchange

Direct Connection contract 1 kicks into gear in Camden County

Beginning Friday night, April 26, NJDOT's contractor, PKF Mark III, plans to shift both travel lanes on the ramp to the outside, up against the existing curb line. The shift - which will require overnight lane closures and will be fully in place Saturday morning, April 27 - is necessary for the contractor to set up the new work zone as it begins work to reconstruct the inside portion of the ramp, as well as to provide safe construction vehicle access along the ramp. Once established, the new traffic pattern will maintain two lanes, utilizing the existing outside shoulder as a travel lane. Motorists will experience traffic shifts on this ramp for approximately six months.

The contractor will have emergency towing service available to quickly respond and remove any disabled vehicles in the work zone. A number of strategically located safe-zones have been established where the vehicles can be towed to.

Additional portable variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with Direct Connection.

In early March, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson broke ground on the $160 million Contract 1 which will carry out work along I-295 south of Essex Avenue, along I-76 in the Market Street area and along two Route 42 ramps. Work under this first contract is expected to be completed in the summer of 2015.

Overall, the $900 million federally funded Direct Connection project will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists traveling through the interchange – through which approximately 250,000 vehicles travel daily to and from Camden, Philadelphia and other destinations. The project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract in the fall of 2021.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.