New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) in the US has broken ground on a $900m federally funded Direct Connection project in order to lower congestion on the Rt-42/I-295/I-76 interchange.

The new nine-year, four-phase construction project will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists travelling through the interchange of I-295, Route 42 and I-76 in Bellmawr, Mt. Ephraim and Gloucester City.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno said that the project will help reduce crashes and improve traffic flow along the busiest highway stretch in this southern New Jersey region.

"The new route will also benefit local residents who are regularly subjected to traffic congestion on their streets when crashes within the interchange prompt motorists to divert to local roads," Guadagno said.

The project includes ten new bridges, one bridge widening, one bridge rehabilitation, two temporary bridge structures, 22 retaining walls, over 40 new sign structures and more than 15,000ft of new or reconstructed noise walls.

The contract for the first phase, which requires an investment of $160m, has been awarded to PKF Mark III of Newtown, Pennsylvania, with pre-construction work scheduled to begin immediately.

"The project will help reduce crashes and improve traffic flow along the busiest highway stretch in this southern New Jersey region."

Under this contract, work will be carried out along I-295 south of Essex Avenue, along I-76 in the Market Street area and along two Route 42 ramps.

The project includes the replacement of Creek Road and Bell Road bridges, with temporary widening of various stretches of roadways in order to accommodate work under future contracts.

Works under this phase are expected to be completed in the summer of 2015. The project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract expected in the fall of 2021.

The requirement for significant improvements to the Rt-42/I-295/I-76 interchange was recognised in 1985 during NJDOT’s design of widening improvements for Route 42.

In 1999, NJDOT in conjunction with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission recommended that a project providing a full, grade-separated interchange be advanced.