Paving on I-76/Route 42 will
require overnight lane closures

Several detours will be in place

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a series of overnight lane closures this week to mill and pave portions of I-76 westbound/Route 42 northbound, which include closing lanes on I-295, as the Direct Connection project advances in Bellmawr, Mt. Ephraim, and Gloucester City, Camden County.

Monday
At 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, September 29 through approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, September 30, NJDOT's contractor, PKF Mark III, will be closing several lanes to mill and pave I-76 westbound/Route 42 northbound, and to remove beams from the Creek Road Bridge. The following roads will have lane closures tonight:

• I-295 northbound left lane and Exit 26 to Route 42 northbound/I-76 westbound will be closed
• Route 42 northbound will have two lanes closed from just south of the Creek Road overpass to Klemm Avenue
• Route 42 southbound left lane will be closed from Browning Road to just past Creek Road

Also beginning at 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, September 29 through approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, September 30, NJDOT's contractor, will be closing two lanes on I-295 northbound for a quarter mile near Exit 25/Route 47 to restripe the roadway for an upcoming traffic shift. One lane will be maintained during the work.

Tuesday
At 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 30 through approximately 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 1, Route 42 northbound will have the two right lanes closed from about Creek Road to Klemm Avenue. Motorists on Route 42 northbound/I-76 westbound will be unable to access Exit 1C (Market Street) or Exit 1D (Route 130 northbound). The following detour will be in place:

• Motorists on Route 42 northbound/I-76 westbound will be directed to stay right and take the I-676 split (Exit 2) to Collings Road (Exit 1) westbound. From there motorists take I-76 eastbound to Exit 1C (Route 130 southbound) to the Market Street Exit to Route 130 northbound.

In addition, one lane on I-295 northbound and Exit 27 to I-76 westbound will be closed. The following detour will be in place:

• Motorists on I-295 northbound will be directed to take Exit 28/Route 168 Blackhorse Pike to I-295 southbound to Exit 26/I-76 westbound.

Wednesday through Friday
Each night, Wednesday, October 1, through Friday, October 3, from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning, Route 42 northbound will have the right lanes closed and the I-76 westbound Exit 1C (Market Street) and Exit 1D (Route 130 northbound) will be closed. The following detour will be in place:

• Motorists on Route 42 northbound/I-76 westbound will be directed to stay right and take the I-676 split (Exit 2) to Collings Road (Exit 1) westbound. From there motorists take I-76 eastbound to Exit 1C (Route 130 southbound) to the Market Street Exit to Route 130 northbound.

Route 295 southbound Exit 26 to I-76 westbound also will be closed for those three nights with a signed detour. Motorists will be directed to Exit 25A (Delsea Drive) to I-295 northbound to Route 42 northbound/I-76 westbound.

Variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with Direct Connection. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information before upcoming lane closures or traffic shifts.

This work is part of the Direct Connection project that will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists traveling through the interchange of I-295, I-76, and Route 42. The I-76 reconstruction in the Market Street area is part of the $160 million Contract 1, which includes work along I-295 south of Essex Avenue, and the replacement of the Creek Road and Bell Road bridges.  Work under this first contract is expected to be completed in the fall of 2015.

The Direct Connection project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract in the fall of 2021. NJDOT's project website provides construction activity schedules and updates.

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.