2 new ramps connect New Jersey drivers on I-295 and Rt. 42

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New Jersey drivers who pass through the I-295/Rt. 42 interchange in Camden County will now have an easier time. Construction crews officially opened two new ramps Tuesday morning providing seamless transition between the two highways.

The new ramps connect northbound I-295 to southbound Rt. 42, and Route 42 northbound to I-295.

“These movements were something that had never been done before,” said Stephen Schapiro, press manager with the state Department of Transportation. “Now you can directly go between these two roadways with these new ramps that opened up.”

Schapiro said about 150,000 drivers travel the corridor.

The “Missing Moves” project is essentially complete, minus some minor work over the next several weeks. Construction began in March 2020 after decades of discussion. Schapiro said the $180 million, federally-funded project was completed on time and on budget.

In addition to the new ramps, workers reconstructed the Creek Road Bridge over I-295 between Rt. 42 and Almonesson Road, widened the I-295 bridges over Big Timber Creek, and installed a new interchange for Exit 14B on Rt. 42 northbound while adding a second lane to the northbound Rt. 55 ramp to northbound Rt. 42.

“It’s something that should help ease congestion, have traffic flow more smoothly, and really make a difference for motorists in that area,” Schapiro said.

One other major project remains in the corridor.

“Direct Connect” involves building a new bridge on I-295, which will go over Rt. 42,    allowing drivers to continue on the interstate without having to exit .

Heavy rains caused a retaining wall that’s part of the project to collapse in 2021. That caused the completion date to be pushed back to 2028.