The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has announced a public forum to discuss the proposed construction of a grade-separated U-turn at Milepost 19.0 along the New Jersey Turnpike in West Deptford Township, Gloucester County. This project is part of the state's No Net Loss Reforestation Act and Executive Order No. 172 issued by Governor Kean in 1987.
The planned U-turn bridge aims to replace the current median cut-throughs and will be restricted to official use, such as emergency and maintenance vehicles. The construction site encompasses 4.8 acres of forested land, which falls under the No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Program. The Authority has emphasized minimizing the environmental impact while developing this project.
A public forum will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the West Deptford Municipal Building located at 400 Crown Point Road, West Deptford, NJ 08086. The event begins with an open house at 6:00 p.m., followed by a presentation from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Representatives from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority will present project details and address questions from attendees.
Attendees will have the opportunity to provide oral and written feedback during the forum. The public comment period concerning the No Net Loss and EO-172 processes will remain open for sixty days after the event, concluding on April 5, 2025. Written statements can be submitted at the forum or sent to Prayag Sayani, PhD., P.E., Project Engineer - Structures.
For additional information about the project, interested parties may contact Prayag Sayani via email at structuresdesign@njta.com or by mail at P.O. Box 5042 Woodbridge, NJ 07095.
