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Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that the first stage of the I-295 Southbound Reconstruction Project from Landers Lane to I-95 is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 15.
The authority’s contractor will be working at night to erect jersey barriers in the construction zone.
The goal of the reconstruction project is to rehabilitate the approach roads and ramps to improve the highway’s efficiency and safety while limiting the impact on the public. At the conclusion of the project, I-295 southbound mainline traffic lanes will have 50 percent more capacity.
During this phase of construction, two southbound mainline through-lanes will be maintained at all times. While DRBA engineers have designed the project to minimize traffic delays to the extent possible, motorists should expect to experience them from time-to-time.
The following traffic pattern changes can be expected during Stage 1, the DRBA reported;
- Traffic on I-295 southbound will be shifted to the right to allow for reconstruction and paving of the left lanes.
- Traffic on I-295 southbound to the I-95 northbound ramp will be shifted to the left to allow for reconstruction and paving of the right side of the ramp. One lane of traffic will be open at all times on the ramp.
- Traffic on the ramp from I-295 southbound to I-495 will be shifted to the left to allow for reconstruction and paving activities on the right side of the ramp. At least one lane of traffic will be open at all times.
- Beginning February 21, the ramp from US Route 13 north to I-295 southbound will be closed. Detour signage will direct motorists to continue I-295 northbound to the exit ramp for U.S. Route 9 north, remain on U.S. Route 9 to the I-295 southbound ramp and continue I-295 southbound.
- The I-295 southbound to U.S. Route 13 ramp will be reduced from two lanes to one lane. Traffic will be shifted to the left side of the ramp to allow for reconstruction and paving of the right side.
Mumford & Miller Concrete, Inc. of Middletown, is handling the construction work at a cost of $33.7 million.
When highway work ends in November 2018, the authority will have invested more than $90 million during the I-295 Delaware Memorial Bridge Approach Road Rehabilitation program.
