'Missing Moves' Connector Opens Tuesday In Camden Co. After Years In Making

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — After decades in the making, the "Missing Moves" project in Camden County is nearly complete. New ramps connecting Interstate 295 and Route 42 will open Tuesday — in time for the morning commute — officials said.

The I-295/Route 42 Missing Moves project is designed to reduce congestion and improve safety for the nearly 150,000 drivers who travel through the corridor daily. The project began in March 2020 but was discussed for decades prior.

Costing $180 million in federal funds, the project will be completed on time and on budget, according to the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

The new ramps connect I-295 northbound to Route 42 southbound, and Route 42 northbound to I-295 southbound in the Bellmawr area. Although the precise timing hasn't been announced, the new ramps will open before the Tuesday morning commute, NJDOT said.

But first, the right lanes on I-295 northbound and Route 42 northbound will be closed from 9 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday. The closures are necessary to complete striping, install raised pavement markers, uncover new signs and remove construction barrels, according to state officials.

There may be overnight closures over the next few weeks for "minor work" on I-295 and Route 42, NJDOT said.

The new project also included:

• Demolition and reconstruction of the Creek Road Bridge over I-295 between Route 42 and Almonesson Road — completed and opened to traffic in September 2022. Installation of electrical conduit, sidewalks and fencing was finished last September.
• Redecking and widening of the I-295 Bridges over Big Timber Creek. This was necessary to accommodate traffic taking the I-295 northbound exit ramp to Route 42 southbound and to allow more room for traffic coming from Route 42 northbound to safely merge onto I-295 southbound, NJDOT says.
• Relocating the Route 42 northbound Exit 14 interchange ramps with Creek Road/Leaf Avenue, which permanently closed in July 2022. The new Route 42 northbound Exit 14B interchange with Benigno Boulevard was opened.
• Restriping the Route 55 northbound ramp to Route 42 northbound in order to provide two lanes of traffic instead of one.