EWING, NJ – NJ Route 175/River Road is scheduled to be closed and detoured during overnight hours next week to allow for demolition of portions of the former highway approach bridge on the New Jersey side of the Scudder Falls Bridge.
The approach bridge carried I-95 (later re-designated as I-295) across NJ Route 175/River Road, the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and the NJ Route 29 NB bypass lanes immediately adjacent to the Scudder Falls Bridge. The demolition work must take place at night because it requires New Jersey-bound traffic on I-295 and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge to be restricted to a single lane through the work area. A prolonged lane closure cannot be implemented during daytime hours due to heavy commuter traffic volumes.
The full schedule of Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project travel restrictions for the week of October 20 are as follows:
New Jersey side
- NJ Route 175/River Road in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – OVERNIGHT closure with posted detour 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25. Use nearby Route 29 as an alternate route around the closed roadway segment. Also, intermittent alternating single-lane travel with traffic controlled by flaggers 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
- NJ Route 175/River Road Entry Ramp to I-295 SB – 24/7 closure continuing until spring 2021. DETOUR: Use the southern roundabout at the nearby I-295/Route 29 interchange to access the on-ramp for I-295 SB.
- Route 29 SB in the vicinity of Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – Intermittent FLAGGER-controlled travel 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
- I-295 NB (PA-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern extending onto the new completed span of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 25.
- I-295 SB (NJ-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern permitted 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
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, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 25.
- I-295 WB (PA-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern – if needed for construction activities – permitted west of the new Scudder Falls Toll Bridge 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 25.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
- 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, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
- River Road/PA Route 32 – Possible intermittent traffic stoppages controlled by flaggers 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 25.
Weekends
Other than carry over of any Friday overnight closures into Saturdays, no lane closures are scheduled for the weekends of Oct. 19-20 and 26-27.
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 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays now through October. Towpaths are open on weekends.
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.
