South Jersey businesses, drivers see relief as Route 70 project nears end

Drivers in South Jersey have had to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic over the years as a major road improvement project was underway on Route 70. But now Camden County is partnering with the state to beautify that stretch of 70. Our Jennifer Lee is live in Cherry Hill. And Jen, I imagine drivers are very happy about this. Yes, they are. They're also in support of that beautification project along Route 70 here and certainly really excited that overall the construction project is reaching the finish line. It's very chaotic when we come over here. It's been horrible. It's been very backed up. Complaints over construction on Route 70 have been going on as long as the project that started in 2022, impacting drivers and businesses along this nine-mile stretch in Cherry Hill and Pennsauken. I work, like, right off 70, so, yeah, it's always adding on a couple extra minutes, many minutes to the ride. I think if it's too hard for people to get here with this traffic, they'll just turn around, especially if they're coming from Philadelphia, because we have a lot of clients in Philadelphia. Local county and state officials held a news conference to say the end is in sight for the $155 million project and also announced Camden County's initiative to beautify and add green spaces along the nine-mile stretch of Route 70 seen here in renderings. I think these plantings will show that we take great pride in our communities here in Camden County. It'll be a nice gateway into the state of New Jersey and into Camden County. New Jersey DOT says the road improvement project will finish by the winter with a final paving in early spring, which is also when planting will take place so New Jersey can live up to its name as the Garden State. Our residents and our businesses have exercised incredible patience. It's so seldom that you get somebody to make the type of financial commitment that's been made here. And we're glad for it because at the end of the day, Cherry Hill and Camden County and Pennsauken and all the neighborhoods will be better for it. And Camden County officials say that beautification project, the costs are expected to be in the millions, although a final number has not been finished just yet. And they say, reassuring drivers, that it will only cause minor disruptions in the spring. Dawn? All right, Jen, it'll look a lot better than traffic cones. Thank you.