After almost two years of construction, a 1.25 mile segment of the Berlin-Cross Keys Road reopens after a widening project was deemed completed on Friday August 2nd. The widened segment supports two lanes of traffic in each direction (plus center turning lane) from the Camden County Technical School Campus to Turnersville Road (near Dollar General).
Camden County puts the cost of this project at $6.9 million, which required relocation of utility poles (and wires) as well as underground storm management systems.
County commissioner Al Dyer who is the liaison to the County Department of Public Works says (press release):
This project has been a long time in the making, and we are thrilled to announce that it is finished, and the regular flow of traffic can now resume. We know that this project was a major disruption for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the area, but it was a worthwhile investment.
Many years ago Camden County deemed this project necessary to support the growth in the area from new residential housing and commercial developments along Berlin-Cross Keys Road and surrounding communities.
What was not too long ago a very rural stretch of roadway, in the last few decades has become its own destination commerce center, as well as being a major thoroughfare for residents moving through the area.
The new wider configuration supports additional traffic growth on the roadway, as well as providing a safer turning situation for commuters via the shared center turn lane.
In my visit today traffic was moving nicely through the new section and I saw several instances of cars utilizing the new center turn lane.
Motorists should be aware that it appears that for some short period of time Northbound traffic may see some right lane closures as you approach Evergreen Ave (near Turnersville Rd), with crews working to develop a small segment of sound barrier wall adjacent to a private property.
This new widening effort concludes Contract Three of a multi-contract project to widen Berlin-Cross Keys Road from the Black Horse Pike to the White Horse Pike.
With this additional segment the widened Cross Keys Road totals 5.25 miles from the Black Horse Pike to Turnersville Road with about 2 miles remaining to be addressed.
If you factor in the Cross Keys Road Bypass in Washington Township, it totals about 6 miles of two lane roadway (each direction).
This recently completed Contract 3 segment did run a longer than originally estimated, with county documents showing an original expected completion date of August of 2023.
We’ve followed some of the delays (stoppages) here at 42Freeway in order to answer numerous questions from area residents. Those delays were due to unexpected moister soil conditions in a small portion of the 1.25 mile segment particularly around Sharps Branch Creek, which required additional efforts to ensure a solid base.
For the planned remaining two miles I do not have a timeline on when core widening construction work is to begin (to the White Horse Pike), but I noticed that last summer a contract was awarded under the Phase 4 segment regarding the relocation of utility lines. UPDATE: a reader reports they noticed that utility poles have started being moved… Contract 4 starts?!?
The moving of the utility poles and overhead wires is one of the earlier steps of these widening projects.
Motorists should also be aware that the Gloucester County segment of Cross Keys Road from the Black Horse Pike to the County line (an area somewhat close to Royal Farms) is planned to be resurfaced, and a Gloucester Contract was recently awarded.
