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NJDOT PLAN
(see driving directions below photo)
TRAVELING ON ROUTE 73
Heading North on 73 toward Mt. Laurel:
Near Trader Joe's, the main part of 73 Northbound goes up the overpass as 2 lanes. Near the top of the overpass, a 3rd lane blends in from the right bringing in traffic that has gone around a cloverleaf from 70 Eastbound. On the overpass, 73 Northbound is 3 lanes and becomes 2 lanes as the overpass descends. Then a new 3rd lane receives traffic blending in from 70 Westbound and shortly becomes 2 lanes again across from the north corner of Kohl’s parking lot. Route 73 Northbound remains 2 lanes as it continues up to and beyond Baker Boulevard.
Further south, 73 Northbound in front of the Promenade Shopping Center is still 2 lanes going north before the overpass until it widens around the Trader Joe's Shopping Center with a new right lane. This new right lane then becomes an independent road with 2 lanes. Its right lane allows cars to turn right to get onto eastbound Main Street Marlton.
The 2 lanes of this same at-grade road which go straight (with a slight curve to the right) become 4 lanes out to an intersection with Route 70. At this point (east of the overpass), cars can turn right (eastbound) onto 70 or turn left (westbound) onto 70 or go straight across 70 onto a service road that allows access to Public Storage and the other large buildings which are east of the Public Storage Facility. There is also a right turn from westbound Main Street onto this 4-lane road that takes cars to the intersection with Route 70.
Main Street will also have cars entering (to head eastbound) from a 2 lane road that exits 70 Eastbound just before the intersection that feeds cars from Northbound 73 to the left or right onto 70 near “Frank’s Shopping Center”.
The Problem: The first traffic light on 73NB beyond the new construction is 0.7 miles away at 73 and Lincoln, with the next traffic light another 0.5 miles beyond that at 73 and Greentree Road.
Heading South on 73 toward Berlin:
After Canal’s Liquor Store, Route 73 SB becomes 3 lanes. The left 2 lanes go up onto the overpass starting near the far north corner of Kohl’s parking lot. The 3rd lane (on the right) remains an “at grade” road that widens into 2 lanes then 3 lanes with a 4th lane coming in from a jughandle on the right. Controlled by a traffic light, the 2 left lanes turn left to go east on 70 while the center and right lanes head south after crossing 8 lanes of Route 70. Before the jughandle, a temporary 4th right lane splits and skirts Kohl’s parking lot for a right turn to go west on 70, blending into 3 lanes of 70 Westbound as a temporary 4th lane.
The 2 lanes that go straight cross 70 Westbound (4 lanes) and then cross 70 Eastbound (4 lanes). After crossing these 8 lanes of 70 (controlled by traffic lights), these 2 lanes continue to parallel the overpass and the left lane blends back into 73 South which is by that time 2 lanes at grade. The right lane temporarily splits into a 3rd lane after the “local” 73 Southbound crosses the 8 lanes of 70 for use as a right turn (westbound) onto Old Marlton Pike.
Going west on Old Marlton Pike is 3 lanes all westbound. One can continue straight or turn left (south) onto existing Centre Boulevard or turn right (north) onto a new extension of Centre Boulevard. This new extension of Centre Boulevard is 2-way, allowing cars going north to turn right onto 70 Eastbound and also allowing cars to get off 70 Eastbound to head south on Centre Boulevard.
The Problem: The first traffic light on 73SB beyond the new construction is 0.5 miles away at Centre Boulevard. The next traffic light is 0.4 miles beyond that at Brick Road and a 3rd traffic light is another 0.4 miles beyond that at Evesham Road.
TRAVELING ON ROUTE 70
Heading West on 70 toward Philadelphia:
At Route 70 and Maple Avenue it appears that there are no changes. Westbound 70 then becomes 4 lanes at a new intersection near “Frank’s” Shopping Center. One cannot turn left (all traffic to the left is coming into this intersection to pick up 70EB or 70WB), but can turn right into the service road for Public Storage and the nearby large buildings which are east of the Public Storage Facility. Beyond this intersection, still heading west on 70, the far right 4th lane goes up onto the 73 Northbound overpass and 3 lanes go straight and widen to create a new 4th lane.
These 4 lanes of 70WB go under the overpass where traffic lights control an intersection with “at grade” 73 SB. Then the 3 left lanes of 70 WB continue west while the right lane becomes a jughandle onto the “at grade” 73 SB where one can get into one of the 2 closest lanes either to go straight across 70WB and 70EB onto “at grade” 73 SB or to take a left to head east on 70. This requires the other 2 lanes of this local 73 SB to also turn left and head east on 70.
The 3 lanes continuing west on 70 allow entry from the right lane into the ShopRite Shopping Center near Friendly's and also further west into the main ShopRite entrance. Continuing west on 70, the 3 lanes drop to 2 lanes near the bank just before The Mexican Food Factory and Staples parking lots.
The Problem: Beyond the new construction with its traffic lights at the intersection of Route 70 with "at-grade" 73SB, the first traffic light on 70WB is 0.3 miles at the entrance to ShopRite and empty store fronts which may become a popular restaurant. The next traffic light is 0.2 miles beyond that at Cropwell and the 3rd traffic light is 0.5 miles beyond that at Conestoga.
Heading East on 70 toward Medford:
West of ShopRite, 70 Eastbound goes from 3 to 2 lanes. Then the 2 lanes become 3 and then 4 lanes, with the 4th lane dedicated to a left turn into ShopRite near Blockbuster.
After the ShopRite left turn lane, 3 lanes continue east on 70. Cars in the far right lane can turn right (south) onto the new extension of Centre Boulevard. There is then a 4th lane on 70EB right that allows incoming traffic to turn right onto 70EB from the new northbound extension of Centre Boulevard. These 4 lanes intersect at a new traffic light with "at grade" 73 SB. The 4th lane allows cars in that far right 4th lane to turn right onto “at grade” 73 SB. After this right turn in this 4th lane, cars on 73 SB can then turn right onto Old Marlton Pike or continue on 73 SB and blend in with traffic coming down from the 73 Southbound overpass.
Beyond the traffic lights that control the intersection with the "at-grade" lanes of 73 SB, traffic staying in the 70EB 3 lanes goes under the overpass. A new 4th lane on the right then allows cars to turn right into a jughandle that goes up onto the 73 Northbound overpass or branches to continue as 2 lanes into Main Street Marlton. Beyond this jughandle the 3 lanes of 70EB continue to the new intersection that brings traffic onto Route 70 from Route 73NB.
The Problem: The first traffic light on 70EB beyond the new construction intersection with its traffic lights is 0.2 miles away intersecting with Maple Avenue. The next traffic light is another 0.2 miles beyond that at Locust and a 3rd traffic light is another 0.3 miles beyond that at Plymouth.
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Please note: Corrections to the above narrative should be emailed to LynnMarlton@MarltonCircle.com.
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