Marlton Telegram

By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Marlton Telegram
Construction continues at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 73 as the first stage of the state Department of Transportation’s Marlton Circle elimination project nears its December end date.
The NJDOT is currently working to complete stage 1D, the final portion of the first stage of the $31 million project to eliminate the Circle and allow Route 73 to carry traffic above Route 70 via an overpass, according to Timothy Greeley, a spokesperson for the NJDOT.
Stage 1D involves the preparation to shift Route 73 traffic to the west, which will allow for the room necessary to build the overpass structure that will carry Route 73 over Route 70, according to Greeley.
To do this, Greeley said, involves the construction of a new ramp to handle all traffic on the ramps connecting Route 70 to Main Street in order to maintain access after the traffic is shifted.
In addition, drainage and utilities are currently being installed throughout to provide drainage and workers are removing existing infrastructure, Greeley said.
Greeley said construction, so far, is on schedule and headed on time toward its winter 2011 end date.
The overpass will be constructed during the second phase of construction, which is set to begin in January 2010 and end in March 2010, according to the DOT’s Marlton Circle Web site.
The current roadway design contains a cut through. The circle design at the intersection should essentially be removed by February 2010, Greeley said.  
The ramps, which will allow the full allotment of moves to and from Routes 70 and 73, will be completely in place once the project is completed, Greeley said.
Construction for the project broke ground in April and will be completed in three stages. 
The intersection of Route 70 and Route 73 is one the busiest intersections in South Jersey, with 100,000 vehicles traveling through it per day, Greeley said.
“NJDOT is confident that the replacement of the circle with an overpass will best serve motorists traveling through this corridor by improving safety and congestion,” Greeley said.
The project limits are on Route 70 from Maple Avenue to Cropwell Road (milepost 8.2 to 8.65) and Route 73 from Centre Boulevard to Lucas Avenue (milepost 23.8 to 24.3), Greeley said.
To date, crews have finished demolition of the former Bob’s Seafood establishment on Route 73 as well as a Boston Market restaurant along Route 70. Various trees and sidewalks have been cleared for the construction of ramps. Excavation has been stockpiled near the construction zone as well and will be used as roadway embankment.
Temporary lights are up for the duration of construction along Route 70 at Route 73 north, Route 73 south and at Maple Avenue. A temporary light at the intersection of West Main Street and Route 73 is also up during stage one.
Before the end of this year, workers will begin building an extension of Centre Boulevard from the intersection at Old Marlton Pike to Route 70. A service road will be constructed to provide access to adjacent businesses, NJDOT officials said. 
Another service road, from the intersection of Route 70 and the northbound ramp for Route 73 will be installed to provide access to Public Storage and Cherry Valley Tractor during overpass construction.
Workers will reconstruct parking lots at Marlton Crossings, Marlton Greene, Pietro’s Restaurant, Joe Canal’s Liquor Store, the former DiSimone BMW dealership and the Shoprite and Kohl’s shopping center in order to allow access to businesses and traffic circulation inside the lots.
Permanent traffic lights will go up on Route 70 at the Shoprite and Kohl’s shopping center and at the intersection of Old Marlton Pike and Center Boulevard.
Pedestrian safety improvements such as curb ramps and crosswalks will be installed at various points.
NJDOT has allowable single-lane closure hours on Routes 73 and Route 70 within the project limits from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Greeley said.
There will be periodic nighttime closures to allow for the installation of pipe underneath the existing roadways, Greeley said.
Traffic information will continue to be provided through variable message signs along Route 70 and Route 73 and on NJDOT’s NJ511 Travel Information Web site, www.nj511.info. Commuters can also access the NJ511 phone system for traffic information by dialing 5-1-1 or 1(866) 511-NJDT (6538).
For construction updates regarding the Marlton Circle, visit the NJDOT’s Marlton Circle Web site, www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/ marltoncircle.

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