NJDOT To Address I-295 Wall Collapse At Public Meeting: Officials

BELLMAWR, NJ — State legislators have requested a meeting with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) after a retaining wall partially collapsed on I-2195 last week.

“While we are thankful that there were no injuries, we have heard from residents and motorists across Southern New Jersey who have expressed concerns and asked questions,” representatives from New Jersey’s 5th Legislative District wrote in a letter to the NJDOT. “We are requesting that the Department of Transportation conduct a public meeting, either in-person or in a virtual setting, to update the public on the collapse and answer any outstanding questions.”

The district, which spans parts of Camden and Gloucester counties, is represented by State Sen. Nilsa Cruz Perez and Assemblyman William Moen and William Spearman.

Moen said NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti responded and a meeting will be set up soon.

“We hope to have the meeting scheduled for a date next week, and we will post more details once they are confirmed,” Moen said in a Facebook post.

The partial collapse took place near Essex Avenue in Bellmawr on March 25. NJDOT worked over the weekend, and that area of the road remains closed while NJDOT officials determine what caused the collapse. Read more here: Wall Built As Part of $800M Project Collapses On I-295: Officials

The wall was built as part of the $800 million Direct Connection Project, the goal of which is to provide a seamless route for drivers traveling on I-295 through the interchange of I-295, I-76, and Route 42.

The project was announced in 2019, and was to be completed by 2024, but the finish had already been postponed until 2028 before the collapse, nj.com reports. It is unclear how the collapse impacts the schedule, but Moen said he is hopeful that it is one of the questions that will be answered at next week’s meeting.