Engineering and design firm Parsons Brinckerhoff has secured a new contract for conceptual design and related environmental services for the I-278/Route 1 & 9 interchange ramps in Union County, New Jersey, US.

The new project is being executed by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the cities of Elizabeth and Linden.

It involves traffic studies, travel forecasting and modeling works, concept development, environmental investigations as well as stakeholder and public coordination.

"The project aims to prepare an environmental assessment to be approved by the FHWA."

The project aims to prepare an environmental assessment to be approved by the FHWA in order to continue with advanced to the preliminary and final design phases.

The proposed scheme will construct two ramps to the existing interchange of I-278 at US Route 1&9, one ramp to connect westbound I-278 with northbound US Route 1&9 and the other to connect southbound US Route 1&9 with eastbound I-278.

These changes may also require a new bridge to be built over US Route 1&9 as well as few additional roadway improvements along the US Route 1&9 corridor between Bayway Circle and the improved interchange with I-278.

Parsons Brinckerhoff already conducted a preliminary study for the project as part of an environmental impact statement it prepared for the Goethals Bridge.

According to the company, conceptual designs of a preferred alternative, along with an environmental assessment for the new interchange ramps are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.