Commuters navigating the congested intersection of Routes 76, 295, and 42 in Camden County are nearing a milestone. According to NJ.com, drivers could begin using two newly constructed flyover sections of the Direct Connect project as early as next spring. The work is part of a multi-phase overhaul that ranks as the second-costliest highway undertaking in New Jersey history.
The total price tag stands at $900 million. Construction on the project began in 2013.
Steel Beams Taking Shape Above Routes 76 and 42
Visible progress has been accumulating along the Routes 76 and 42 corridor since fall 2025, when crews began setting structural steel for flyover bridges onto concrete abutments. NJ.com reported that work is now underway on the new Route 295 bridge spanning the Routes 76 and 42 interchange, the Browning Road Bridge, and a separate structure carrying Route 42 northbound traffic toward Route 295 northbound.
Beam installation is being carried out overnight during lower-traffic periods to reduce disruption to drivers, state Department of Transportation spokesperson Stephen Schapiro told NJ.com. Schapiro said the phased beam work is expected to wrap up this spring.
A Junction Long Plagued by Congestion and Structural Problems
The interchange has drawn attention for years. Part of the reconstruction addresses a retaining wall along the corridor that failed in March 2021, forcing lane closures and delays. The rebuilt wall now supports a roadway that will carry traffic once the new bridges open…