Overview
The New Jersey Department
of Transportation (NJDOT)
has started the Final
Design for
the I-295/I-76/Route 42 Interchange
in Bellmawr, Mt. Ephraim and Gloucester
City in Camden County. The Draft
Environmental Statement (DEIS) was
submitted in November 2007, followed
by the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) being
submitted in December 2008. The Record
of Decision was signed by the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
in March 2009.
 The
purpose of
this project
is to improve safety
and reduce
traffic congestion
at the intersection
of
I-295, I-76
and Route
42. It
will address
quality-of-life
issues relating
to motorists,
residents
and
the environment.
At present
the I-295,
I-76 and Route
42 interchange
does not provide
a direct connection
for I-295 through
traffic. The
existing interchange
requires motorists
to reduce speed
in both directions
of
I-295 to
safely
negotiate ramps
with 35 mph
speed limits.
In addition,
drivers
must also compete
with vehicles
entering from
Route 42 and
I-76, causing
dangerous
conditions.
Being a
major artery
for Philadelphia
commuter traffic
via the Walt
Whitman Bridge,
and a connection
to the southern
New Jersey
shore,
Route 42 and
the Atlantic
City Expressway,
this interchange
is the busiest
in the region.
Due to the
high volumes
of traffic,
low main line
design speed,
complex
configuration
of the interchange
and weaving
movements,
a high incidence
of motor vehicle
accidents often
occur.
Background Studies
Between 1985 and 1987,
an investigation was performed
with the possibility of
creating a direct connection
with a design speed of
70 mph. A
straightened alignment
was preferred from a traffic
standpoint for optimal
design speed, but it required
the acquisition of a
substantial amount of residential
properties in the community
of Bellmawr. Because of
this, NJDOT decided to
cease any further detailed
data collection and/or
analysis of this concept,
which had come to be
known as the "Unrestricted
Alternative".
NJDOT's Bureau
of Project
Scope Development
was then asked
to evaluate and develop new conceptual
solutions for improving the interchange.
Twelve concepts emerged to be workable
from strictly a constructability
standpoint. These concepts illustrated how
design speed would be
increased up to 60 mph. Even without
the benefit of detailed environmental
studies and public or outside
agency input, it was
evident that each
concept would have some
impact to at least one
known environmentally sensitive
resource.
A key objective
of the
scoping/feasibility phase
of
NJDOT's effort was
to improve the I-295/I-76/Route
42 interchange and to
evaluate all of the potential
impacts of these concepts.
Coordination and communication
with the surrounding communities
and regulatory agencies
was
paramount in the consensus
building required to make
the necessary decisions
on this regionally significant
project.
Prior to the
development of the alternative
concepts for the
I-295/I-76/Route 42
interchange, the Route
42 widening project provided
an additional fourth lane
of travel for vehicles
on Route 42 into and out
of the interchange to the
south. The new lane also
eliminated the southbound
weaving between I-76 to
I-295 and the I-295 to
Route 42 movements.
To meet federal
transportation
regulations,
NJDOT in conjunction with Delaware
Valley Regional
Planning
Commission
(DVRPC),
agreed to
a Transportation
Investment
Study (TIS). This study provided
comprehensive
multi-modal
alternatives to address identified
transportation
deficiencies within this area. Included
in the TIS was a
Congestion Management Study (CMS) that
identified travel demand reduction
strategies
and operational
improvements that complement a potential
investment. The initial results of
this study
confirmed a
continued
need for
the direct
connection
of I-295
movements
through the interchange.
Efforts associated
with the development
of the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) included:
- Project partnering
- Screening
- Topographic Survey
- Community involvement
- Traffic Count Program
- Development of Alternatives
- Environmental Baseline
Evaluations and Analysis
- Technical Environmental
Studies
- Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement and
a selection of an Initially
Preferred Alternative
Subsequent
to the completion of the
EIS a Record of Decision
was issued.
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