Over the past couple of months, starting halfway through May, the 17.4 million dollar construction project on Kresson Road has proceeded.

Funded by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the project is contracted to reconstruct and widen the bridge, which drives Kresson Road over the New Jersey Turnpike.

The project has a goal to help strengthen and rebuild the 70-year old bridge. The bridge “shows signs of heavy wear and deterioration and is in need of an upgrade,” authorities say.

The new structure will be 16 feet wider than the original, however, the number of lanes will continue to be the same, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, NJTA, said in a statement. The widening of the bridge is due to the shoulders becoming five feet instead of the original three feet. In addition, there will be six-foot sidewalks in both directions.
The construction contract awarded by the NJTA was given to the Driscoll Construction Co. of Blue Bell, Pa in March of 2020 and due to COVID-19 regulations, work was pushed and had to be started in May.

The making of the structure will continue to affect both the New Jersey Turnpike and Kresson Road. Over the past few months, during the start of this project, drivers have seen occasional lane closures/restrictions during off-peak times.

To avoid hindering traffic flow greatly during peak periods, officials have avoided closing off full lanes, rather making them narrower due to construction barriers. However, the NJTA statement said, “Drivers should expect to encounter periodic lane restrictions and detours during off-peak times.”

To notify drivers of any lane closures or changes, there will be signs and announcements posted and sent out for residents of Cherry Hill. It is recommended to be aware of any alerts and when driving during off-peak times, be prepared to reroute if lanes are closed.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is expecting the construction to be completed by mid-2022 barring any complications or delays.