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The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) has considered a broad range of alternatives to meet the project's Purpose and Need and to identify the Preferred Alternative for the I-95/Scudder Falls Bridge Improvement Project.
To facilitate the development and evaluation of these various alternatives, the project was divided into four segments:
In the interest of keeping the public abreast of the project's eventual scope during the administrative review of the draft Environmental Assessment, the Commission is providing an outline of what it believes to be the best option for each of the four project segments listed above. The DRJTBC has chosen the following best options for each segment; these options combined constitute the agency's Preferred Alternative:
A set of improvement options was developed and evaluated for each segment. Options were evaluated based upon criteria that included potential impacts to the natural environment and local communities. At each step of the decision-making process, Open Houses and municipal meetings were held to gather public input on the options. Residents and commuters were kept informed through newsletters, newspaper articles and the project Web site - www.scudderfallsbridge.com - which was first established in 2003.
The recommended option for the segment on I-95 from PA 332 to Taylorsville Road is widening to the inside of the highway's corridor - namely converting the wide existing median strip to travel lanes.
The two options for this segment of the project were widening I-95 in the median or adding travel lanes along the outside of the existing travel lanes. Inside widening of I-95 in Pennsylvania was chosen because widening to outside would have greater environmental impacts and would bring traffic noise closer to existing neighborhoods.
The option would result in the addition of one travel lane in each direction, one lane northbound and one southbound. West of Taylorsville Road, with the proposed improvements, I-95 will consist of three travel lanes in each direction. With the inside widening, the grassed median will be replaced by travel lanes and shoulders, a paved median, and a concrete barrier. Lower Makefield Township - the community most directly affected by this project segment - supports the "inside" highway widening option.
An illustration of how I-95 looks now and after the proposed improvement is presented below:
Please click on the image below to view a larger pdf.
Segment 2: Taylorsville Road Interchange at I-95 in Pennsylvania - Option 2
The recommended option for the Taylorsville Road Interchange will eliminate the existing eastern southbound off-ramp from I-95 and combine it with the existing western southbound off-ramp. All other existing ramps at the interchange -- the northbound off-ramp, the two northbound on-ramps, and the southbound on-ramp -- would be retained with minor alignment modifications made to these ramps. Modifications will be made to I-95 acceleration and deceleration lanes in the interchange area to improve traffic safety and flow. In addition to these modifications of on- and off-ramps at the interchange, Taylorsville Road would be widened to provide two lanes in each direction plus turning lanes within the interchange. Woodside Road would be widened on the approaches and exit legs to its intersection with Taylorsville Road.
Three other options were considered for this segment and included various combinations of conventional on- and off-ramps at the interchange. Option 2 is the DRJTBC's recommended option because it is the most effective for increasing safety and reducing congestion at the interchange.
An illustration of the proposed improvement at the I-95 and Taylorsville Road interchange is presented below:
Please click on the image below to view a larger pdf.
Segment 3: Scudder Falls Bridge - Addition of Travel Lanes, Upstream Alignment
The current Scudder Falls Bridge consists of two travel lanes in each direction with no shoulders and it is insufficient to meet future traffic demands.
The DRJTBC has concluded that the existing bridge must be replaced to meet future traffic and public safety needs. The Commission is recommending that a new bridge be constructed upstream with overlapping of the current bridge footprint. The new structure would have five lanes northbound (three for through traffic and two for auxiliary entry/exit travel) and four travel lanes southbound (three for through traffic and one for auxiliary entry/exit).
Auxiliary lanes provide vehicles with a way to safely access and egress the interstate particularly when interchanges are closely spaced. Full inside and outside shoulders will be provided on the bridge.
The Commission worked closely with many state and federal agencies and residents throughout the project to design a new bridge that will meet the region's future needs. As a result of conversations with New Jersey Transit, the inside shoulder of I-95 throughout the project area will be 14 feet wide to accommodate potential Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service that would operate during congested conditions. The Commission will include the construction of a 10 - 12 feet wide pedestrian/bike path on the southbound side of the bridge as part of the planned replacement of the bridge.
Other alignment options considered for this segment included building a new bridge downstream of the existing structure or roughly along the centerline of the existing bridge. The upstream alignment was chosen because there are fewer property impacts and residential displacements.
An illustration of the proposed improvement of the Scudder Falls Bridge is presented below:
Please click on the image below to view a larger pdf.
Segment 4: NJ 29 Interchange and corresponding I-95 approach in New Jersey - Roundabouts
The recommended option for this project segment calls for the reconstruction and realignment of the Route 29 interchange through the use of roundabouts. This option would result in a folded diamond interchange with two roundabout intersections at the ramps with I-95.
This option - Option 1c (modified) -- eliminates all traffic signals through the interchange to allow for a free flow of traffic. The option also retains the bypasses for NJ Route 29 northbound and southbound traffic. Adequate acceleration and deceleration lanes will be provided on to I-95. The stop-sign at the southbound I-95 on-ramp will be eliminated as will the existing I-95 on-ramp from NJ Route 175 (Upper River Road). This latter movement will be accommodated with the NJ Route 29 interchange.
Three other options were considered for this segment, all of which included folded diamond interchanges with conventional on- and off-ramps to I-95. Option 1c (modified) is the recommended option because it is the best option from the viewpoint of safety and traffic operations and preferred by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
An illustration of the proposed improvement at NJ Route 29 and I-95 is presented below:
Please click on the image below to view a larger image.