EWING, NJ – NJ Route 175/Upper River Road – a short-distance, two-lane thoroughfare that crosses beneath I-295 on the New Jersey side of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – is scheduled to be closed during weekday overnight periods starting Monday, March 23.
The weekday overnight closures are expected to last at least two weeks. The travel restrictions are scheduled to be in effect next week 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.
The road closure is needed to allow for construction activities related to the construction of a new approach bridge that will carry I-295 SB traffic from the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge’s downstream span when it is completed and opened to traffic in late summer 2021. The overnight work will involve heavy equipment used for drilling shafts to support the new approach bridge, which will cross over Route 175/Upper River Road, the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and the Route 29 NB bypass roadway.
The full schedule of travel restrictions for the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project for the week of March 22 is as follows:
New Jersey side
- Route 175/Upper River Road – Closed weekday overnight with traffic in both directions shifted to nearby Route 29 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.
- Route 29 SB Bypass Lane – An around-the-clock closure with a shift of traffic through the adjoining I-295/Route 29 interchange’s connector ramps and roundabouts for travel toward Trenton and other points south. (Please see attached Route 29 SB Bypass Diversion Map.)
- I-295 NB (PA-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern extending onto the new completed upstream span of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
- I-295 SB (NJ-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern permitted 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
- Route 29 SB & NB in the vicinity of Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – Intermittent FLAGGER-controlled travel 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
- NJ Route 175/River Road Entry Ramp to I-295 SB – 24/7 closure continuing through spring 2021. DETOUR: Use the southern roundabout at the nearby I-295/Route 29 interchange to access the on-ramp for I-295 SB.
Pennsylvania side (tentative)
- 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, March 23, through Friday, March 27.
- 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, March 23, through Friday, March 27.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
- River Road/PA Route 32 – Possible intermittent traffic stoppages controlled by flaggers 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 23, to Friday, March 27.
The aforementioned scheduled travel restrictions are subject to change due to weather, emergencies, traffic, and equipment/materials mobilization. Motorists are urged to allow extra time to reach their destinations, reduce speeds and exercise caution when travelling through project work areas.
Weekends
Aside from the NJ Route 29 SB bypass lane closure, no project-related lane closures are scheduled for the weekends of March 28-29 and April 4-5.
Delaware Canal Towpath (PA side) – Intermittent daytime closures possible 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for overhead I-295 approach bridge construction now through March; open on weekends.
Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath (NJ side) – Scheduled to be open now through March.
More information on the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project is available at www.scudderfallsbridge.com.
CONSTRUCTION NOISE ADVISORY – Overnight construction activities in the area of NJ Route 175 are expected for at least two weeks. The work will involve shaft drilling and moving of heavy equipment; it will NOT involve driving of sheet pile or steel pile. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and its contractor are prohibited from closing Route 175 during daytime hours due to morning and evening job commuting, so the work must take place during overnight hours.
