This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Get Info on 295/42/76 Realignment Project, Thursday Night in Bellmawr

State Department of Transportation representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the major highway project.

The Route 295/42/76 interchange as we know it is on its way out—over the next several years, a series of viaducts, new ramps and bridges will transform the tangled mess of concrete spaghetti in a dramatic redesign.

With the "Al-Jo" set to go the way of the dodo, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) is holding an informal information session this evening in Bellmawr on the project, dubbed Direct Connect.

Designed to give residents and commuters a look at what the full project entails—10 new bridges, three miles of noise barriers, 22 retaining walls, and more, among the massive changes to the roads themselves—how long it will take and how it'll help alleviate the daily traffic nightmare that is the current configuration.

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is a major multi-year project that will have a substantial impact on Camden County motorists and several municipalities,” said Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison the Camden County Department of Public Works, in a statement Wednesday. “It is important for county residents to be aware of how this construction will affect their commute and their communities.”

With work tentatively slated to begin in March, the eight-year, $900 million project is split into four phases, which will overlap as the roads are realigned. The last pieces, mostly along Route 42, wouldn't be complete until 2021, according to the DOT's plans.

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The changes will eliminate some of what state officials said are the most dangerous elements of the current alignment, including the weaving merge between Route 42 north and Route 295.

DOT representatives will be on hand, with maps and plans in hand for public inspection, for the information meeting, which is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Bellmawr Ballroom, at 29 Lewis Ave. in Bellmawr.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?