By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
I have good news for my fellow South Jersey commuters:
The construction work at the I-295/I-76/Route 42 Interchange is entering its final phase and will be completed… in the winter of 2023.
That’s right, Save Jerseyans. The work that goes into “10 new bridges, one bridge widening, one bridge rehabilitation and two temporary bridge structures” in addition to 15,000 feet of new noise walls will take ten years (it started back in 2013).
Let’s put all of this into perspective given the ongoing debate over how to replenish our state’s transportation trust fund.
Germany’s legendary Autobahn – the precursor of our modern U.S. highway system – extended over 2,300 miles 5-years into its construction which began in 1935. Had World War II not interrupted development and devastated the country’s economy, the Autobahn would’ve likely doubled in size within 10 years… the same period of time it’s taking our state’s contractors armed with upgraded technology to upgrade one interchange.
During the New Deal? And after our soldiers beat the Nazis and Japanese and returned home? Our US Army Corps of Engineers could throw up a highway or complete small bridge in a few weeks.
Waste, bureaucracy, and inefficiency is holding us back, folks.
Has it ever been more obvious?
I’m not suggesting the project itself isn’t necessary. I am insisting that this process is INSANE.
Trenton Democrats (and, sad to say, many Republicans) want to raise the gas tax to pay for this nonsense but they don’t want to discuss why New Jersey spends 8.4 times the national average for every mile of road it maintains or builds. Many reasonable people (myself included) wouldn’t balk at discussing a dedicated fund IF the primary driver for this unnecessarily expensive situation was addressed first. B
ut union support counts more than taxpayer support at election time so there you go, my friends….
Ten years and nearly one billion dollars.
When it’s finished, let’s all hope the new Interchange can support all of the traffic heading South, towards the Delaware Memorial Bridge, for taxpaying motorists in search of a saner, fairer place to call home.
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“When it’s finished, let’s all hope the new Interchange can support all of the traffic heading South, towards the Delaware Memorial Bridge, for taxpaying motorists in search of a saner, fairer place to call home.”
Don’t forget the Rt 78 bridge and the Rt 22 bridge.
Down with the ship you go, R00ney! None of this would be possible without the G0Pe.
welll it could be done in a much shorter time if you are willing to shut down the highway interchange for about two years or so. Eminent domain a few properties. Deal with any wetland cleanup and remediation. And allow for extended hour construction.
“[T]axpaying motorists in search of a saner, fairer place to call home” are looking to the South and the West.
Clueless Matt strikes again. Maybe, if Republicans didn’t neglect our infrastructure for so long and let it go to complete sh*t since they bitch and moan whenever any attempt is made to raise a tax in order start repairing it, it wouldn’t have to take that long or even be necessary for that matter.
You either get a job done right, or you get it done fast. You can’t have it both ways.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJXSxnw&sns=em
I have to think that the daily traffic is strong factor in prolonging the end, but considering the cost it better be the best damn interchange ever constructed.
Is it made of gold? It should be with that kind of budget
Again you forget who has dominated our legislature for decades. Remember, we are a Navy Blue State. Ever wonder what the Dems did with the money we did have to spend on our roads?? Might try checking that out. I find it interesting that you are so politically bigoted that you ignore the facts. Dems have been in charge of this state more years than not. So I would say that is who to blame. But please, don’t let a fact get in your way.