I-295 Ramp Closures Scheduled For Thanksgiving Week: See Details

LOWER MAKEFIELD, PA — Two additional ramp closures have been scheduled along I-295 near the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge this week, as work crews carry out a variety of tasks so the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project can reach “substantial completion” in mid-December.

In Pennsylvania, the first I-295 westbound ramp after the bridge to Taylorsville Road (Exit 10 to Yardley and New Hope) is scheduled to be closed from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. The ramp closure will allow for the erection of a new sign structure in the vicinity of the interchange. The posted detour will be via Exit 8.

In New Jersey, the I-295 northbound off ramp to Route 29 (Exit 76 – the last New Jersey exit prior to the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge) is scheduled to be closed with a posted detour from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Drivers who use Exit 76 are urged to plan ahead on Tuesday and use the prior County Route 579/Bear Tavern Road interchange (Exit 75) in order to avoid a toll at the Scudder Falls Bridge into Pennsylvania. Failure to take Exit 75 will result in a point-of-no-return situation where motorists will need to pay the bridge toll before attempting a U-turn from Pennsylvania back into New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the connector lanes between the roundabouts at the I-295/NJ Route 29 interchange could reopen to traffic as early as Monday – weather permitting. The reopening of the two lanes would then allow final paving work to take place on the adjoining Route 29 southbound bypass lane and along portions of nearby NJ Route 175/Upper River Road either on Wednesday or the following Monday.

Read the full schedule of anticipated project-related travel restrictions for this week:

Pennsylvania side

• I-295 WB Off-Ramp to Taylorsville Road (Exit 10 for Yardley and New Hope) – Overnight closure with posted detour to the PA Route 332/Newtown-Yardley Road interchange (Exit 8), 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.
• I-295 WB – Possible off-peak single-lane travel 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23; and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24.
• I-295 EB and the Scudder Falls Bridge (NJ-Bound) – Possible off-peak single-lane travel 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Nov. 22, and through Tuesday, Nov. 23.
• 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, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 23.
• Woodside Road from River Road to Park-n-Ride Lot – Possible flagging and short-term stoppages 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 23.

New Jersey side

• I-295 NB Off-Ramp to Route 29 (Exit 76 – Last NJ exit before Toll) – One day closure starting 7 a.m. and continuing until at least 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23. To avoid the toll at the Scudder Falls Bridge, motorists who use Exit 76 must take the detour starting at the prior County Route 579/Bear Tavern Road interchange (Exit 75). The posted detour will be as follows: Take the Exit 75 off-ramp and keep right to loop onto southbound CR-579/Bear Tavern Road. Proceed to the second traffic signal at the intersection of West Upper Ferry Road/CR-634. Turn right and proceed on West Upper Ferry Road/CR-634 to the next traffic signal at the intersection of Route 29. Motorists can either turn left on the green signal to take Route 29 SB toward Trenton and other points south, or turn right to take Route 29 NB toward Washington Crossing, Lambertville and other points north.
• Route 29 Roundabout Connector Lanes at I-295/Route 29 Interchange (Exit 76) – The work on these lanes has progressed to the point of paving. There is a slight chance the two lanes reopen as early as Tuesday afternoon if temperatures stay warm enough for paving work. If not, the lanes should at least be in a condition to allow for reopening before Wednesday morning’s peak commuting period. Once reopened, the reconstructed roundabout connector lanes will allow for the resumption of the following travel movements at the I-295/NJ Route 29 interchange (Exit 76):

• I-295 SB access to Route 29 NB
• I-295 NB access to Route 29 SB
• Route 29 SB access to I-295 SB
• Route 29 NB access to I-295 NB/WB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge Pennsylvania-bound
• U-turns on I-295 and Route 29

• I-295 NB and the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (PA-Bound) – Possible off-peak single-lane travel 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. (next day) Monday, Nov. 22, and through Tuesday, Nov. 23.
• I-295 SB – Possible off-peak single-lane travel 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23; and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24.
• Route 29 SB Bypass Lane – Possible closure for final paving on Wednesday, Nov. 24, or Monday, Nov. 29. Otherwise, open to traffic.
• Route 29 NB Bypass Lane – Possible short-term flagging and stoppages 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 23.
• Route 175/Upper River Road – DAYTIME closure with detour via nearby Route 29 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 23. Possible closure for final paving on Wednesday, Nov. 24, or Monday, Nov. 29.
• Route 175/Upper River Road entry ramp to I-295 SB – Continuing 24/7 closure. DETOUR: Use the southern roundabout at the nearby I-295/Route 29 interchange to access the on-ramp for I-295 SB. (UPDATE: This closure is now projected to end during the first full week of December, weather permitting.)

All scheduled travel restrictions are subject to change due to weather, emergencies, traffic, and equipment/materials mobilization. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time to reach their destinations, reduce speeds and exercise caution when traveling through project work areas.

Aside from the current continuous closures of the roundabout connector lanes beneath the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge, no other project-related lane closures are scheduled for the weekends of Nov. 20 and Nov. 27.