EWING, N.J. – Final paving work will shift to the I-295/Route 29 interchange (Exit 76) in New Jersey next week after construction crews completed the applications of wear-coat asphalt surfaces at the I-295/Taylorsville Road interchange ramps in Pennsylvania this past week.
The upcoming work on the New Jersey side of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge will involve a series of overnight ramp/roundabout closures and corresponding detours. The areas to be paved at the I-295/NJ Route 29 interchange (Exit 76) were reconstructed over the past four years as part of the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project.
The traffic restrictions and corresponding detours will vary from night to night. Virtually all travel movements within the interchange will be affected at some point during the week. Some of the posted detours will necessitate motorists using other exit and entry ramps at other nearby I-295 interchanges in New Jersey. The numbers of affected motorists, however, will be mitigated by the fact that the travel restrictions will be limited to the hours – between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. – when traffic volumes are lowest.
Motorists who might need to use the interchange during next week’s overnight periods are advised to keep alert for advance-warning signs and follow posted detours. Some detours I-295 NB and Route 29 NB will begin well before the interchange.
The connector lanes between the interchange’s roundabouts still need to be reconstructed as part of the project. This work will take place during subsequent weeks in October and early November. Final paving of reconstructed I-295 approach roadways in the project area is scheduled to begin in mid-October and continue until the project reaches substantial completion in December.)
(Note: Paving work is weather sensitive and could be rescheduled in the wake of steady rain).
As currently scheduled, next week’s overnight ramp and lane closures will be implemented as follows:
Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 4-5, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) – Route 29 northbound bypass lane and the northern roundabout’s access ramp to Route 29 northbound get paved. This will affect the following travel movements
- NJ Route 29 NB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for North 29.) Prior to reaching the interchange, prepare to make a right turn at the intersection of Route 29 NB and NJ Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road (traffic signal); turn right onto Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road; proceed to the first left turn, where NJ Route 175 shifts Upper River Road; follow this to the intersection with Route 29 NB for travel toward Washington Crossing, Lambertville, and other points north.
- I-295 SB and NB access to NJ Route 29 NB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for North 29) Continue past the closed ramp on the roundabout and proceed out of the roundabout to go beneath the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge onto Route 29 SB; follow Route 29 SB to first traffic signal, bearing left into the signalized left-turn lane; on the green arrow, turn left onto West Upper Ferry Road/NJ Route 175; proceed to the first left turn, where NJ Route 175 shifts onto Upper River Road; follow this to the intersection (traffic signal) with Route 29 NB for travel toward Washington Crossing, Lambertville, and other points north.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) – The interchange’s southern roundabout and related ramps get paved. This will affect the following travel movements:
- I-295 SB exit ramp to Route 29 NB and SB after crossing the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge into New Jersey from Pennsylvania – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Route 29) Upon entering New Jersey, continue on I-295 SB past Exit 76; proceed one mile to the exit ramp for the CR-579/Bear Tavern Road interchange (Exit 75); bear right off the ramp onto CR-579 SB/Bear Tavern Road; proceed to the intersection with CR-634/West Upper Ferry Road (traffic signal); turn right and proceed to the Route 29 intersection (traffic signal); for entry onto Route 29 NB, turn right for travel toward Washington Crossing, Lambertville and other points north; for entry onto Route 29 SB, turn left on green signal onto Route 29 SB for travel toward Trenton and other points south.
- I-295 NB exit ramp to Route 29 SB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Route 29 and South 29) On I-295 NB, keep alert for Route 29 SB exit ramp closure warning signs prior to the CR-579/Bear Tavern Road interchange (Exit 75); take the exit ramp for the CR-579/Bear Tavern Road and bear right at the end of the ramp; proceed south on CR-579/Bear Tavern Road to the intersection with CR-634/West Upper Ferry Road (traffic signal); turn right and proceed to the Route 29 intersection (traffic signal); turn left on green signal onto Route 29 SB for travel toward Trenton and other points south.
- NJ Route 29 SB approaching the I-295 interchange – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for South 29) Before the interchange, all southbound traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road and West Upper Ferry Road to the intersection with Route 29 SB (traffic signal); on the green signal, turn left onto Route 29 SB for travel toward Trenton and other points south.
- NJ Route 29 SB connection to I-295 SB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Interstate 295 and South Interstate 295) Prior to reaching the interchange, Route 29 SB traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road. Proceed on Route 175/Upper River Road to the first stop sign; turn left onto County Route 634/West Upper Ferry Road; proceed to the traffic signal at CR-579/Grand Ave/Bear Tavern Road; turn left onto CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; follow CR-579 to I-295 and bear right onto the ramp for I-295 SB.
- NJ Route 29 SB connection to I-295 NB/WB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge Pennsylvania-bound – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Interstate 295 and West Interstate 295) Prior to reaching the interchange, Route 29 SB traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road. Proceed on Route 175/Upper River Road to the first stop sign; turn left onto County Route 634/West Upper Ferry Road; proceed to the traffic signal at CR-579/Grand Ave/Bear Tavern Road; turn left on green light onto CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; follow CR-579 to I-295; cross over I-295 and immediately bear right onto the access ramp for I-295 NB for travel across the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge into Pennsylvania where I-295 NB becomes I-295 WB.
- NJ Route 29 NB connection to I-295 SB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for South Interstate 295) Prior to reaching the interchange, prepare to make a right turn at the intersection of Route 29 NB and NJ Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road (traffic signal); turn right onto West Upper Ferry Road/NJ Route 175; continue straight onto County Route 634/West Upper Ferry Road to the traffic signal at CR-579/Grand Ave/Bear Tavern Road; on green signal, turn left onto CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; follow CR-579/Bear Tavern Road to I-295 and bear right onto the ramp for I-295 SB.
- NJ Route 29 NB connection to I-295 NB/WB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge Pennsylvania-bound — Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for West Interstate 295) At the traffic signal on Route 29 NB before the interchange, turn right onto West Upper Ferry Road/NJ Route 175; proceed straight onto County Route 634/West Upper Ferry Road to the traffic signal at CR-579/Grand Ave/Bear Tavern Road; turn left onto CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; follow CR-579/Bear Tavern Road to I-295; cross over I-295 and immediately bear right onto the access ramp for I-295 NB for travel across the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge into Pennsylvania where I-295 NB become I-295 WB.
Thursday, Oct. 7, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) – The interchange’s northern roundabout and related ramps get paved. This will affect the following travel movements:
- I-295 SB connection to Route 29 NB after crossing the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge into New Jersey from Pennsylvania – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Route 29 and North 29) After taking the Exit 76 ramp for Route 29, enter the roundabout and proceed for travel onto Route 29 SB; proceed to the first intersection (traffic signal), keeping left to access the left-turn lane for NJ Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road; on the green signal, turn left onto NJ Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road; take the first left turn onto NJ Route 175/ Upper River Road; proceed north to the intersection with Route 29 NB for travel toward Washington Crossing, Lambertville and other points north.
- I-295 NB connection to Route 29 NB and SB – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Route 29 and North 29 or South 29) Keep alert for Route 29 exit ramp closure warning signs along I-295 prior to the CR-579/Bear Tavern Road interchange (Exit 75); take the Exit 75 ramp for CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; bear right to head southbound at the end of the ramp; proceed south on CR-579/Bear Tavern Road to the intersection with CR-634/West Upper Ferry Road (traffic signal); turn right and proceed to the Route 29 intersection (traffic signal); for Route 29 NB, turn right for travel toward Lambertville and other points north; for Route 29 SB, turn left on the green signal onto Route 29 SB for travel toward Trenton and other points south.
- NJ Route 29 SB approaching the I-295 interchange – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for South 29) Before the interchange, all southbound traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road and West Upper Ferry Road to the intersection with Route 29 SB (traffic signal); on the green signal, turn left onto Route 29 SB for travel toward Trenton and other points south.
- NJ Route 29 Northbound connection to I-295 NB/WB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge Pennsylvania-bound – Detour: (Follow posted detour signs for Interstate I-295 and West Interstate 295) Prior to reaching the interchange, Route 29 SB traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road; proceed on Route 175/Upper River Road to the first stop sign; turn right onto Route 175/West Upper Ferry Road; proceed to the Route 29 intersection (traffic signal); turn right onto Route 29 NB; bear left at the fork and skirt the roundabout to enter onto the ramp for I-295 SB; proceed about three miles south to the I-295/Scotch Road interchange and take the ramp marked Exit 73-A, proceed north across I-295 bearing right for the entry ramp onto I-295 NB for travel to the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge where the highway becomes I-295WB upon entering Pennsylvania.
- NJ Route 29 SB connection to I-295 SB – Detour: (Follow detour signs for Interstate 295 and South Interstate 295) Prior to reaching the interchange, Route 29 SB traffic will be diverted onto nearby Route 175/Upper River Road. Proceed on Route 175/Upper River Road to the first stop sign; turn left onto County Route 634/West Upper Ferry Road; proceed to the traffic signal at CR-579/Grand Ave/Bear Tavern Road; turn left onto CR-579/Bear Tavern Road; follow CR-579 to I-295 and bear right onto the ramp for I-295 SB.
In addition to the ramp closures and detours above, the following project-related travel restrictions are possible for the week of Oct. 3:
New Jersey side
- I-295 SB – Intermittent off-peak single-lane travel (one of two lanes closed) 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
- I-295 NB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (PA-Bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane travel 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
- 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. (NOTE: This closure currently is projected to reopen on or about October 4.)
- NJ Route 175/Upper River Road – Flagging/short-term DAYTIME stoppages possible Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
- NJ Route 175/Upper River Road entry ramp to I-295 SB – 24/7 closure continuing until early November. DETOUR: Use the southern roundabout at the nearby I-295/Route 29 interchange to access the on-ramp for I-295 SB.
Pennsylvania side
- I-295 EB and Scudder Falls Bridge (NJ-bound) – Intermittent off-peak single-lane travel (one of two lanes closed) 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
- I-295 WB – Intermittent off-peak single-lane pattern 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. (next day) Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
- Taylorsville Road north of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, to Friday, Oct. 8.
- Taylorsville Road south of I-295 – Intermittent single-lane patterns with possible flagger-controlled travel 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, to Friday, Oct. 8.
- 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, Oct. 4, to Friday, Oct. 8.
All 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 SB bypass lane beneath the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge in New Jersey, no other project-related lane closures are scheduled for Oct. 2-3 and 9-10.
Delaware Canal Towpath (PA side) – Around-the-clock closure of the towpath segment in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge and its Pennsylvania I-295 approach. This closure is currently scheduled to remain in place two more weeks, ending on or about Oct. 8. The closure is allowing for construction of a pedestrian bridge over the canal in the area of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s 1799 House trailhead facility off Woodside Road in Lower Makefield, PA.
Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath (NJ side) – Possible closures/stoppages 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through October.
More information on the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project is available at www.scudderfallsbridge.com.
