$900M Direct Connection Begins 3rd Contract

Fri December 22, 2017 - Northeast Edition #26
Lori Tobias – CEG Correspondent

Crews build the new ramp (bridge 8) from I-76 EB to I-295 NB.

Overhead view of the interchange looking west (I-295 NB is on the left).

The newly reconstructed Creek Road Bridge over Route 42 is open to traffic.

A view of the newly reconstructed Bell Road Bridge over I-295.

The interchange (looking south) along I-76, becomes Route 42. The ramp on the right that crosses over to the left is from I-76 east to I-295 north. A portion of the new Bridge 8 is seen being constructed.

The interchange (looking north) along Route 42 features new sound walls on the right. A dangerous weave was eliminated (on the right, near signs) with a concrete barrier and a new ramp to I-295 north.

Bridge 8, from I-76 east to I-295 north, nears completion.

Work on the third contract of the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Direct Connection project has begun, inching the massive job just a bit closer to its projected 2024 completion.

The $900 million project is designed to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion at the intersection of I-295, I-76, and Route 42.

In its current configuration the I-295, I-76 and Route 42 interchange does not provide a direct connection for I-295 through traffic, according to NJDOT.

According to a press release, "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 also must 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."

Because of the size and complexity of the project, it was divided into four construction contracts. Construction began in the winter of 2013, but plans for the project have been in the works since 1998.

The project includes 12 bridges, of which four have been completed, and spans 1.5 mi. through Camden County.

"It's the largest project we have in southern Jersey," said NJDOT spokesman Steve Schapiro. "It's the second largest project in the state; the Pulaski Skyway is the largest."

One of the biggest tasks crews will face in completing contract 3 is installing an estimated 30 to 50 beams, each 220 ft. by 100 in., to construct three spans of the new section of I-295.

"The mainline is going to be elevated with 10 foot beams with an elevation of 50 feet," said John McCleery, project manager. "Coming up in the next year and a half, we're getting them erected and in place and completing all the advance work to build the piers and abutments. We are on schedule to get the beams erected. Once we get those erected I don't see anything stopping us from plowing right through."

Another challenge is working with the different soil types.

"We have a lot of sand," McCleery said. "We're using column supported embankments. Normally, we would fill in with soil and let it settle. But in order to expedite the project we had the designer use column supported embankments. So, basically we're building the road on pilings so you can build the road right away."

Because pile driving can cause a great deal of noise and vibration and the project runs through numerous residential areas, crews are drilling the pilings.

"When you drive a pile it's like a large hammer," McCleery said. "The drill is a lot less impactful than driving piles. In contract 2 we drove 500 pilings for large walls, bridges and retaining walls. There's a lot of subsurface work that requires, in normal construction, pile driving. Here we're doing drill shafts to minimize vibration and noise. You drill down and put in a steel cage and pour concrete. That provides the support for the structure."

Crews also must complete the work with as little interruption to traffic as possible, no small feat in such a highly congested area.

"We don't have the luxury of taking lanes out of traffic," Schapiro said. "We have to maintain lanes while doing construction. Much of the work has to be done at night. Approximately 392,000 vehicles go through the interchange of 295 and Rt. 42/ I 76. It's a challenge, doing a massive project in a way that allows the daily commute to take place.

Here's a look from NJDOT at what each contract entails:

• Contract 1, awarded to PKF Mark V, began in the winter of 2013 and was completed in November 2016. Major improvements made under this contract include the reconstruction of existing bridges at the I-295 crossing over Essex Avenue; Bell Road over I-295; and Creek Road over Route 42. In addition, a temporary ramp was constructed to eliminate the weave between Route 42 north and I-295 north traffic for the duration of construction and a new ramp from I-295 north over Route 42 was built.

• Contract 2, awarded to Conti Enterprises, began in June 2014 and is expected to finish in 2019. In July, the new bridge and ramp from I-76 east to I-295 north opened. Demolition of the old structure adjacent to it is under way. Other work completed on Contract 2 includes the realignment of I-295 south leading to Al-Joe's curve and the ramp to I-76 west to Philadelphia, as well as building noise walls along I-295 north and south. Upgrades to the storm water management also were completed on I-295 from White Horse Pike to the vicinity of the Bell Road Bridge. I-295 south is scheduled to be paved this fall.

In addition, the piles to support the new ramp from I-295 south to I-76 east/Route 42 south are 80 percent complete and the remaining work on this ramp will continue in Contract 4. With this work completed, the final phases of Contract 2 can begin, namely construction of a piece of the new I-295 Bridge that will go over the ramp from I-76 east to I-295 north and the remaining retaining walls adjacent to it. This work will continue into 2018, and wrap up in 2019.

• Contract 3, awarded to South State Inc., began in April 2017 and is expected to finish in December 2021. The main focus of this contract is completing the new I-295 mainline direct connection over I-76/Route 42. Work is about to begin on the shaft foundations for these bridges. In addition, work has begun on building a temporary Browning Road Bridge to allow for the construction of a new Browning Road Bridge. The contractor also has been excavating for future retaining walls, along Route 42 north and south. Work in these areas will continue over several months.

• Contract 4 will not go out for bid for a few more years and will include the completion of work along I-76/Route 42, I-295 northbound, the ramp from I-295 south to I-76 west and the remainder of the ramp from I-295 south to I-76 east/Route 42 south. Contract 4 is scheduled to begin in Spring 2020 and finish in 2024.

CEG

Lori Tobias

Lori Tobias is a journalist of more years than she cares to count, most recently as a staff writer for The Oregonian and previously as a columnist and features writer for the Rocky Mountain News. She is the author of the memoir, Storm Beat - A Journalist Reports from the Oregon Coast, and the novel Wander, winner of the Nancy Pearl Literary Award in 2017. She has freelanced for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Denver Post, Alaska Airlines in-flight, Natural Home, Spotlight Germany, Vegetarian Times and the Miami Herald. She is an avid reader, enjoys kayaking, traveling and exploring the Oregon Coast where she lives with her husband Chan and rescue pups, Gus and Lily.