Route 295 Direct Connection Ph. 2

One of the busiest and most congested interchanges in New Jersey, the intersection of I-295, I-76 and Route 42 in Camden County handles daily traffic volumes of over 250,000 vehicles and has one of the highest accident rates in the state.

​To help solve this problem, the NJDOT reconfigured traffic flow along the ramps and bridges that carry I-295 traffic across Routes 42 and I-76 with the Direct Connection to be completed by 2021. Conti built the second phase of this multi-year project. The work involved the north and southbound lanes of I-295 north of the interchange. This project included demolishing and replacing an existing bridge, building a 500-foot wide bridge that will carry all I-295 traffic, construction of on and off ramps, construction of a temporary bridge, installation of sheeting for tunnel and bridge shoring, and ground improvements and roadway construction.

Work was performed with zero reduction in existing roadway capacity. Conti restricted loud construction activities to designated timeframes to limit disturbing the public in an adjacent cemetery and nearby residential neighborhoods.

This project had design-build components associated with column supported and stage line embankment systems. Conti designed and constructed an embankment system to prevent movement in the adjacent cemetery since tie-backs are not permitted.

Conti minimized the impact to the traveling public and nearby residences by working nights and weekends to deliver the project ahead of schedule. The new overpass provided for three to five travel lanes on I-295 in both directions to cross over Routes 42 and I-76 unimpeded at speeds of 55 mph to alleviate regular congestion and provide a safer long term solution. This project won the Top 10 Roads award for project excellence.

This project can only be described as an effort to make the roads safe, to improve our quality of life, to bring businesses and keep businesses in New Jersey.

Kim Guadagno, NJ Lieutenant Governor