LOWER MAKEFIELD – Single-lane New Jersey-bound travel restrictions should no longer be needed at the Scudder Falls (I-295) Bridge during morning peak commuting hours now that overnight/early morning concrete pours have ended for the bridge’s parallel downstream span, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.
The last of 13 extended concrete pours onto the second span was completed Monday night into Tuesday morning of this past week. Project construction will now move into a new phase after the July 4th holiday weekend as the contractor attempts to complete a series of tasks that will enable the second bridge span to open to traffic later this summer.
Before that occurs, though, a moratorium on temporary lane and ramp closures will be implemented for the 4.4-mile long project area starting 6 a.m. Friday, July 2, and ending noon on Tuesday, July 6.
Following the weekend, the following anticipated Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project travel restrictions are scheduled for the week of July 4:
Pennsylvania side
- I-295 EB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (NJ-bound) – Off-peak single-lane travel (one of two lanes closed) possible noon Tuesday, July 6, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 7; and 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Wednesday, July 7 through Friday, July 9.
- 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) Tuesday, July 6, through Friday, July 9.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 6; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, to Friday, July 9.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, to Friday, July 9.
- 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, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 6; and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 7, to Friday, July 9.
New Jersey side
- 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 noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 6; and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, to Friday, July 9.
- NJ Route 175/Upper River Road in the vicinity of the I-295 overpass – Potential flagging/short-term stoppages noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 6; and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, to Friday, July 9.
- 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) Tuesday, July 6, to Friday, July 9.
- I-295 SB – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern permitted noon Tuesday, July 6, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 7; and 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Wednesday through Friday, July 9.
- Route 29 connector lanes between roundabouts — Periodic traffic stoppages controlled by flaggers may be necessary in the detour area from noon Tuesday, July 6, to Friday, July 9.
- 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
- Independence Day Holiday Weekend — A moratorium on temporary project-related lane and ramp closures is scheduled to be in effect from 6 a.m. Friday, July 2, to noon Tuesday, July 6.
- 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.
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.
