EWING, NJ – A series of overnight lane and ramp closures are scheduled to be implemented again next week along portions of the I-295/NJ Route 29 interchange (Exit 76) as part of the ongoing Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.
Next week also will mark the first full week without 24/7 travel restrictions on interchange exit and entry ramps in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge’s first completed span. (Note: A five-week transition period to bring the new bridge into service with corresponding realignments of I-295 and flanking interchange entry and exit ramps is expected to end sometime tomorrow, Friday, August 16.) The new temporary realignment of I-295 through the Scudder Falls corridor area is expected to remain in place well into next year.
The bridge, highway and interchange ramp changes already are allowing work crews to dismantle the old “functionally obsolete” Scudder Falls Bridge and begin construction of a second replacement span over much of that bridge’s old footprint. For motorists, the fully established I-295 realignment with the corresponding reopening of nearby interchange ramps during daytime hours should improve weekday morning job commuting from Pennsylvania to New Jersey for the first time in three weeks. It also should relieve some of the construction-related traffic diversion that has spilled over to other nearby river bridges.
The full schedule of next week’s travel restrictions for the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project are as follows:
New Jersey side
- Route 29 NB Bypass Roadway – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23. Detour: At the traffic light immediately before the interchange, make a right onto Route 175/CR-634/West Upper Ferry Road, proceed to the first left turn and continue on Route 175/River Road to reconnect with Route 29 NB after crossing beneath I-295. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DETOUR MAP)
- Route 29 SB in the vicinity of Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour via nearby Route 175/River Road/West Upper Ferry Road 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23. Detour: Approaching the interchange on Route 29 SB from Washington Crossing, Lambertville and other points north, veer right onto Route 175/River Road, proceed south to stop sign at West Upper Ferry Road, make a right turn and proceed to the traffic light at Route 29.
- Route 29 SB access ramp to the southern roundabout and entry ramp to I-295 SB – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23. DETOUR: Follow signs to I-295 SB via nearby Route 175/River Road/West Upper Ferry Road to Route 29 (traffic light), make right and proceed onto Route 29 NB, taking the left ramp at the fork for the southern roundabout and corresponding ramp to I-295 SB.
- Route 29 NB connector ramp to northern roundabout and entry ramp for I-295 WB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23. Detour: Use southern roundabout to access entry ramp for I-295 SB, proceed to I-295/Bear Tavern Road (County Route 579) interchange (Exit 75), make left at traffic signal at top of exit ramp, cross over I-295, proceed onto entry ramp for I-295 NB toward the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge, and cross the bridge to Pennsylvania where the roadway changes designation to I-295 WB.
- I-295 NB slip ramp to Route 29 SB – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23. Detour: Take the I-295 NB off ramp to Route 29 (Exit 76/last exit before toll), proceed onto Route 29 NB, make a left at first intersection (Bernard Road), make next left onto Route 175/River Road, proceed to stop sign, turn right onto West Upper Ferry Road, proceed to traffic signal, and make left onto Route 29 SB toward Trenton.
- NJ Route 175/River Road Entry Ramp to I-295 SB – 24/7 closure continuing until fall 2020. DETOUR: Use the southern roundabout at the nearby I-295/Route 29 interchange to access the on-ramp for I-295 SB.
- NJ Route 175/River Road in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – Intermittent alternative single-lane travel with traffic controlled by flaggers 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 to Friday, Aug. 23.
- I-295 NB (PA-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern extending onto the new completed span of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge 8 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23.
Pennsylvania side
- I-295 EB approaching the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge and continuing across the bridge to NJ where the designation becomes I-295 SB – Off-peak intermittent single-lane travel – if needed for construction activities – 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 23.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.
- Woodside Road – Intermittent right or left lane closures with passage maintained in each direction and/or flagging-controlled travel 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.
- River Road/PA Route 32 – Intermittent alternating single-lane travel restriction with traffic controlled by flaggers, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.
Weekends
Aside from any carryover of Friday off-peak travel restrictions into Saturday, no weekend lane or ramp closures are scheduled for the weekends of Aug. 17-18 and Aug. 24-25.
Canal Towpaths in the vicinity of I-295 and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge
Intermittent closures of the towpaths for the Delaware Canal (Pennsylvania side) and the Delaware & Raritan Canal (New Jersey side) are possible on weekdays 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The aforementioned scheduled travel restrictions are subject to change due to weather, emergency, traffic, and equipment/materials mobilization considerations. Motorists are urged to allow extra time to reach their destinations, reduce speeds and exercise caution when travelling through project work areas.
More information on the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project is available at www.scudderfallsbridge.com.
