I-295/I-76/Route 42 Direct Connection, Final Design and Construction, Construction Updates, Commuter Information


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Final Design and Construction

The I-295/I-76/Route 42 Interchange project is currently in Final Design and Construction. Construction began in March 2013 and will continue until 2021. The project has been divided into four construction contracts. The first of four major construction contracts is under construction. The second, third and fourth construction contracts are in the Final Design Phase.

The construction includes a total of 10 new bridges, one bridge widening, one bridge rehabilitation and two temporary bridge structures. A total of 22 retaining walls, over 40 new sign structures and a total of over 15,000 feet of noise walls are proposed.

Over 750 soil borings have been taken along with 29 utility test pits. In addition, a detailed analysis of streams and roadway drainage in relation to the proposed new improvements has also taken place. Numerous construction staging schemes have been developed to maintain traffic while construction is performed. New lighting, signing and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) facilities have also been developed.

An additional Advance ITS Contract for the region would also be used. The purpose of the ITS contract is to put in place and make operational several ITS devices and communication systems prior to commencing construction of the I-295/I-76/Route 42 Direct Connection project. The ITS Contract has begun and is scheduled to finish in Fall 2013. This interchange project will impact communication connections for the New Jersey Department of Transportation's (NJDOT) statewide ITS network. The ITS contract will help to ensure functional integrity and continuity of the roadway system and will ultimately give NJDOT a wider range of capabilities to manage traffic in Camden and Gloucester counties during the construction of the I-295/I-76/Route 42 Direct Connection project. Adaptive traffic signal systems will be deployed on Route 168 and Route 130 (arterial routes parallel to I-295, I-76 and Route 42) to help maintain the efficiency of existing traffic signals, which is helpful in cases when drivers on I-295, I-76 or Route 42 choose to divert possibly because of incidents in the Direct Connection interchange. The proposed contract includes the use of Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and travel time readers. A DMS is an electronic traffic sign used on roadways to give travelers information about special events, traffic conditions, roadwork zones and speed limits. Travel Time Readers are equipment to determine the time necessary to move between any points of interest. This information will help to determine delays and more importantly to react to problems more quickly.

The Advanced ITS contract will include:

Temporary communications for impacted facilities
Seven DMS
Two portable DMS
Numerous Travel Time Readers
Adaptive Signal Control on Route 130 and Route 168 corridors

The four interchange contracts have been developed based on the sequence of construction required and limit the dollar amount to create competition. The Final Design phase consisted of the preparation of detailed plans and specifications required to advertise the project. One of the greatest challenges is developing a construction staging scheme which limits the impacts on the motorist traveling through the interchange.

Detailed plans that shift traffic with appropriate signing and striping were developed. The three local roads that cross over I-295 or Route 42 (Creek Road, Browning Road and Bell Road) will be built in stages, so vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be maintained at all times. Another challenge is the significant amount of compressible soils that has been found through soil boring investigations. Special designs to address settlement concerns were developed.

Right of Way (ROW)
A total of 29 properties require full or partial acquisitions and/or easements. A total of 15 residential displacements are required for the selected alternative. Of these 15 residential displacements, 12 are located within the Bellmawr Park Mutual Housing Corporation. Replacement housing for those 12 properties is to be located on vacant land within Bellmawr Park. The Bellmawr Park Mutual Housing Corporation acquisitions will be conducted in two stages - property needed for Construction Contract 1 and then property needed for Construction Contract 3. For Construction Contract 1, the acquisition will be for improvements along Fir Place. All of the residential acquisition will occur in Construction Contract 3. One business acquisition (Seas Towing) and a Green Acres diversion on the Bellmawr Baseball property are necessary for the selected alternative. Appropriate regulations will be followed for all the acquisitions. ROW negotiations/acquisitions are 90% complete except for a few parcels needed for Contract 3.

Permits
Below is a list and description of the permits necessary for the completion of this project.

Permit	Description
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 Individual Wetlands Permit	This USACE permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. A Section 404 Individual Wetlands Permit Application has been prepared to outline the approximate impacts to wetlands and waters under federal jurisdiction. Details on specific construction impacts were submitted and a provisional permit was issued.
USACE Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act Permit	This Act requires authorization from the USACE for the construction of any structure in or over any navigable water of the United States, the excavation/dredging or deposition of material in these waters or any obstruction or alteration in a navigable water. This permit is applied for and granted concurrently with the Section 404 permit.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Section 401 Water Quality Certification	Coordination will be conducted through NJDEP as part of the freshwater wetland approval process.
NJDEP Freshwater Wetlands/Open Water Fill Individual Wetlands Permit	This State permit is required prior to engaging in a regulated activity in and around state open waters, freshwater wetlands and associated transition areas.
NJDEP Coastal/Tidal Wetlands Permit	This State permit is required prior to engaging in a regulated activity in and around mapped coastal wetlands according to the Wetlands Act of 1970.
NJDEP Tidelands Conveyance (Riparian Grant)	Tidelands grants, leases and/or licenses are required for the use of State-owned riparian lands, which are lands presently, or formerly, covered by the mean high tide.
NJDEP Individual Waterfront Development Permit	This permit is required for development at or below the mean high water line in tidal waters of the State and extends from the mean high water line to the first paved road, railroad or surveyable property line. At a minimum, the zone extends at least 100 feet, but no more than 500 feet, inland from the tidal water body.
NJDEP Stormwater Review	NJDEP requires a permit for construction within and proximate to flood hazard areas to reduce flood damage to and from new development, and to protect the flood storage capacity and ecology of floodplains.
NJDEP Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit	This permit is required by NJDEP for the discharge of wastewater associated with the proposed project, such as construction dewatering.
NJDEP Coastal Zone Management Program, Federal Consistency Certification	The Federal Coastal Zone Management Act requires that Federal agency activities, including development projects directly affecting the coastal zone, must be consistent with approved State coastal management programs to the maximum extent practicable. New Jersey has a Coastal Zone Management Program, which would require a consistency certification.
NJDEP Treatment Works Approval	NJDEP requires a permit for the construction of domestic wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment facilities, including treatment plants, pumping stations, interceptors, sewer mains and other collection, holding and conveyance systems to ensure that wastes are properly collected, conveyed and treated before discharge to the waters of the State.
NJDEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water	NJDEP requires a permit for the construction of water distribution system improvements such as water and transmission main extensions and/or replacement exceeding 3,000 feet, new residential services to more than 30 realty improvements, a new non-residential average demand of 12,000 gallons per day or greater and for any interconnection with another public community water system.

The NJDEP permits were obtained April 2012.

Utilities
Utility facilities (including both aerial and underground) on local road bridges are to be relocated to the new bridges. A pump station for Bellmawr Sewer on Browning Road will be constructed. An 18 inch sanitary sewer that crosses Route 42 will also be relocated. As part of the selected alternative, water main extensions into the interchange for fire protection are proposed. For Bellmawr Park, utility facilities will be relocated to accommodate the new roadway pattern. Service disruptions are anticipated to be limited to a few hours when new tie-ins are made.

Noise walls
All three municipalities (Bellmawr, Mt. Ephraim and Gloucester City passed resolutions supporting new and reconstructed noise walls. 11,402 feet of new noise walls are proposed with 4,122 reconstructed noise walls. The Final Noise Wall maps (pdf 4.8m) shows the proposed locations.

Photo simulations
Photo simulations showing potentially impacted areas have been developed depicting existing conditions versus proposed construction. The photo simulations were advanced during the final design phase to coincide with the location. Proposed photo simulations areas impacted are as follows:

Browning Road looking east - existing conditions