South Jersey roadwork continues despite state funding crisis

Pile drivers pound, trucks rumble and machinery hums day and night at the massive road project at Route 42 and Interstate 295 as state politicians grapple with the gas tax and other ways to raise money for statewide road and bridge repairs.

Despite dwindling resources in the state Transportation Trust Fund, there will be no impact on that reconstruction or other ongoing state road and bridge projects in the tri-county region.

And there will be no immediate impact on county government road or bridge projects.

State transportation officials said the largest South Jersey project, the Direct Connect reconstruction of I-295 and Route 42 overpasses in Camden County, will continue as planned.

The work is now in the first and second of four phases of the $900 million undertaking, which is not scheduled for completion until 2021 because of the need to keep both highways open during construction.

"Direct Connect is unaffected because it is fully 100 percent federally funded," said state Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Israel. He said the $500 million set aside for the last two phases could be rerouted only if an urgent state transportation need arises.

Also unfazed is the DOT rebuilding of the heavily traveled Route 130 bridge over Cooper River separating Pennsauken and Haddon Township at North and South Park drives. State construction money already has been set aside and contractors are now replacing the bridge's southbound lanes.

County transportation officials are hopeful — one even confident — the Legislature and the Christie administration will find a solution to address future road and bridge needs statewide before the current trust fund sunsets in 2016. Some observers predict the funds could run out as early as June.

Just last week, however, DOT announced it has reinstated the annual $25 million in county bridge funding it had suspended for this year in early February. Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties are all in the midst of bridge work and applying for more money.

No tri-county bridge is closed or in imminent danger of collapse, according to the last inspection surveys, and only one — the Jessup Mill Road bridge crossing Edwards Run in Mantua — is closed for reconstruction.

Due to open the end of this month or early spring, the bridge suffered damage from summer 2013 flooding and was deemed structurally deficient. That designation does not mean a bridge is unsafe for traffic. It may have one or more significant issues that may require minor repairs, rehabilitation or a compete replacement. A weight restriction for trucks can sometimes address an immediate issue until a bridge can be fixed.

The county is in good shape now with regard to our infrastructure," said Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert Damminger. "We generally stay ahead of the road conditions with our capital projects, including our bridges."

All the counties recently submitted to the state yearly lists of roads to be repaved in 2015. Counties generally contribute 50 percent or more to most state projects and also can apply for federal funds for some qualifying projects.

"County projects are advancing for spring construction with generally no immediate impact (from trust fund delays)," the freeholder said.

But he said 2015 road projects in the design process for fall or for next year could be impacted by trust fund delays.

Among them are intersection improvements to Kings Highway and Tomlin Station Road in East Greenwich; East Academy Street (CR610/CR608) improvements from Delsea Drive (Route 47) to the Conrail tracks in Clayton; Tanyard Road repaving and safety improvements in Deptford; a proposed roundabout at Auburn Road and High Hill Road/Bridgeport Avenue (local) in Woolwich; and countywide restriping and signage.

Gloucester County is in the midst of a new engineering survey, a state requirement every two years for every bridge in the state. The county is awaiting bids on a project utilizing state aid to rehabilitate 10 bridges, including Cooper Street over Big Timber Creek in Deptford.

Burlington County is in the best position for getting trust fund money. It also is the largest county in square miles with 508 miles of roadway.

County engineer Joseph Brickley said the annual state aid of $4.9 million to overlay streets and $1 million in bridge funds have already been set aside for Burlington and will take the county into next year.

"We are one of only three counties that get our money in advance because we are stellar performers. We use our $4.9 million allotment every year and we use it quickly," Brickley said. "We are in good shape and on top of safety."

Burlington also has been successful in getting some of the $4 million in discretionary bridge money that is part of the $25 million because it always has shovel-ready projects in the pipeline, he added..

"We do 20 miles a year in overlay. Right now we are good until next year," he added.

If the state does not fund next year's overlay to begin in spring 2016, Brickley said the county would still repave half the mileage. One of those projects that could be affected next year is Stokes Road in Medford. Church Road in Mount Laurel is to be repaved this year.

Camden County Freeholder Ian Leonard does not know if there will be money for his county's overlay program for 2015 but hopes it will come. Last year the county matched state aid dollar for dollar.

Scheduled for overlay this year is Turnersville Road in Pine Hill, Clements Bridge Road in Runnemede, Creek Road in Bellmawr, Maple Avenue in Merchantville, Cooper Landing Road in Cherry Hill and Haddon Avenue in Camden.

Replacement of the White Horse Road bridge at the PATCO Hi-Speedline is still a year or two off, but repairs allowed the bridge to reopen last year.

"To say there is not going to be bridge and road money is ludicrous because the officials in Trenton will come up with a plan," he said.

"There are a lot of things to play out but in the end, the lawmakers, the governor and the commissioner will come up with something."

Reach Carol Comegno at (856) 486-2473 or ccomegno@courierpostonline.com or @carolcomegno