LOWER MAKEFIELD, PA – Motorists who use I-295 in the New Jersey-bound direction near the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge should prepare for a series of entry and exit ramp closures that will begin early Monday at the bridge’s flanking interchanges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The ramp closures are scheduled to continue without interruption for five weeks. Each will have prescribed detours leading to or from other interchanges off I-295.
At the I-295 EB/Taylorsville Road interchange (New Hope-Yardley, Exit 10) in Pennsylvania, three ramps will close:
- The I-295 EB off-ramp to Taylorsville Road.
- The Taylorsville Road southbound entry ramp to I-295 EB/SB immediately before the old Scudder Falls Bridge.
- And the Taylorsville Road northbound entry ramp to I-295 EB/SB immediately before the old Scudder Falls Bridge.
Affected motorists from these ramp closures will be detoured to the Yardley-Newtown/Route 332 interchange (Exit 8) either along I-295 WB from the Taylorsville Road interchange or via Taylorsville Road and Route 332/West Afton Avenue/Yardley-Newtown Road.
At the I-295/Route 29 interchange (Exit 76) in New Jersey, one ramp will close:
- The off-ramp to Route 29 immediately after crossing the Scudder Falls (I-295) Bridge from Pennsylvania into New Jersey.
Affected motorists from this ramp closure will be directed to the Scotch Road interchange (Exit ramp 73-A) where they can use the loop ramps to cross over I-295 and make a U-turn onto I-295 NB so they can access the Route 29 exit ramp immediately before the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (last exit in New Jersey).
Commuters who use the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge for travel from Pennsylvania into New Jersey are advised to expect delays and allow extra time to reach their destinations on Monday morning as weekday commuters adjust to the ramp closures and new detour routes for the first time.
The new travel restrictions will enable work crews to reconstruct the ramps prior to being put back into service with a new alignment of I-295 EB in Pennsylvania and I-295 SB in New Jersey. The new highway segment will feed NJ-bound I-295 traffic to and from the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge’s second parallel span, which is rapidly nearing completion immediately downstream of the span that opened in July 2019. The second bridge span is tentatively scheduled to open on or about August 16.
The full schedule of anticipated Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project travel restrictions for the week of July 11 are as follows:
Pennsylvania side
- NEW – I-295 EB off-ramp to Taylorsville Road (Exit 10) – Continuous 24/7 closure with posted detour starting after 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 12. DETOUR: Exit I-295 EB at the PA Route 332/Yardley-Newtown Road interchange (Exit 8); follow detour signs for “Taylorsville Road” by proceeding eastbound on PA Route 332/Yardley-Newtown Road toward Yardley, where Route 332 become West Afton Ave. before intersecting with Main Street (traffic light) in Yardley’s business center. Make a left and proceed onto North Main Street, which becomes Taylorsville Road outside of Yardley. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW DETOUR MAP)
- New – On-ramp for I-295 and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge NJ-bound from Taylorsville Road SB – Continuous 24/7 closure with posted detour starting after 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 12. DETOUR: From the I-295/Taylorsville Road interchange, follow detour signs for “I-295 SB;” take the nearby entry ramp for I-295 WB toward Newtown and Philadelphia, proceed to the Route 332/Yardley-Newtown interchange (Exit 8), make a left at the top of the exit ramp, cross over I-295, immediately bear right onto the entry ramp for I-295 EB, and proceed back toward the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge where I-295 EB becomes I-295 SB upon crossing into New Jersey. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW DETOUR MAP)
- New – On-ramp for I-295 and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge NJ-bound from Taylorsville Road NB – Continuous 24/7 closure with posted detour starting after 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 12. DETOUR FROM YARDLEY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT: Follow detour signs for I-295 SB from East Main Street; proceed onto West Afton Avenue (PA Route 332), bear right at intersection with Yardley-Newtown Road (PA Route 332), proceed to the interchange with I-295 EB, bear right onto ramp for I-295 EB toward the Scudder Falls Tolls Bridge where I-295 EB becomes I-295 SB upon crossing into New Jersey. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW DETOUR MAP)
- I-295 EB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (NJ-bound) – Off-peak single-lane travel (one of two lanes closed) 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 16.
- I-295 WB (PA-Bound) west of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern permitted west of the bridge 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 16.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 12, to Friday, July 16.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 12, to Friday, July 16.
- River Road/PA Route 32 – Brief traffic stoppages possible in the vicinity of where River Road/PA Route 32 crosses beneath the Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, July 12, to Friday, July 16.
New Jersey side
- New – I-295 SB off-ramp to Route 29 immediately after crossing the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge into New Jersey (first NJ exit) – Continuous 24/7 closure with posted detour starting after 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 12. DETOUR: Upon crossing the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge from Pennsylvania into New Jersey, follow detour signs for Route 29, continue on I-295 SB to the I-295/Scotch Road interchange, proceed to exit 73A, bear right onto loop ramp, cross I-295, immediately take the loop ramp for I-295 NB, proceed back toward the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge, and take the last New Jersey exit for Route 29. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW DETOUR MAP)
- New – NJ Route 175/Upper River Road in the vicinity of the I-295 overpass – Daytime closures for electrical manhole work 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, July 12, to Friday, July 16. Detour: Use nearby Route 29 to circumnavigate for through north-south travel. Access to be maintained for local residents from respective ends of the detoured area.
- Route 29 SB Bypass Lane – Continuing 24/7 closure with traffic shifted through the adjoining I-295/Route 29 interchange’s connector ramps and roundabouts for travel toward Trenton or onto I-295.
- Route 29 NB – Potential short-term stoppages and flagging 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, July 12, to Friday, July16.
- 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, July 12, to Friday, July 16.
- I-295 SB – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern permitted 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 16.
- Route 29 connector lanes between roundabouts — Periodic traffic stoppages controlled by flaggers may be necessary in the detour area from noon Monday, July 12, to Friday, July 16.
- NJ Route 175/Upper 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.
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 blocked NJ Route 29 bypass lane beneath the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge in New Jersey, no other project-related lane closures are scheduled for July 10-11 and 17-18.
Delaware Canal Towpath (PA side) – Intermittent towpath closures are possible during weekday daytime hours during July.
Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath (NJ side) – Daily closure/stoppages are possible 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through July. These restrictions – when implemented – will allow for construction of a connecting path and access ramp to the shared-use bike-ped facility that is expected to open on the new Scudder Falls Toll Bridge late-summer/early-fall 2021. Canal path open on weekends.
More information on the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project is available at www.scudderfallsbridge.com.
