To address safety and flooding concerns, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and general contractor South State Inc. are replacing two bridges over Big Timber Creek in South Jersey. Located just a few hundred feet apart, the neighboring bridges each carry thousands of vehicles daily along Routes 130 and 47.
Big Timber Creek, a 5.5-mile tributary of the Delaware River, flows through 28 communities and forms the county line between Gloucester and Camden counties. According to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the watershed includes nine tributaries, six major lakes, and approximately 25 miles of waterways. While its headwaters are surrounded by farmland and forest, the region has experienced increasing suburban development in recent years.
U.S. Route 130, which extends more than 80 miles across New Jersey, crosses Big Timber Creek at a bridge originally constructed in 1924 and widened in 1983. The Route 130 Bridge carries an average daily traffic (ADT) of 24,000 vehicles. The structure was deemed both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, prompting its full replacement.
“The need for this project arose due to the poor condition of the bridge’s substructure, piers, and fender system,” NJDOT Public Information Officer Elizabeth Galamba said. “Additionally, inefficient drainage systems and consistent flooding on Route 130 at the Brooklawn Circle have caused frequent roadway closures.”
In addition to constructing a new bridge, work on the project includes:
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
- Installing new guiderail, curb, sidewalk, and curb ramps
- Updating signage and lighting
- Restriping the roadway
- Constructing two retaining walls, four concrete flood walls, and a stormwater management basin
- Making drainage improvements to minimize flooding on the roadway and nearby Brooklawn Circle
The second bridge being replaced is the Route 47 Bridge, built in 1934 and located just east (approximately 500 feet) of the Route 130 Bridge. New Jersey Route 47 runs 75 miles from the Jersey Shore in Wildwood and terminates around the project area.
The Route 47 Bridge, which has an ADT of approximately 18,000 vehicles, is being replaced due to the poor condition of its substructure and fender system, which required semi-annual maintenance until a full bridge replacement could take place. Additionally, frequent flooding on Route 47 compromised safe driving conditions and often resulted in road closures.
Due to the regular wet conditions, the team is raising the bridge by 7 feet. They are also elevating a portion of Route 47 approaching the bridge, along with improving drainage.
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
“Raising the Route 47 profile and constructing a new drainage system with emergency overflow outfalls to Big Timber Creek will help reduce the possibility of flooding and lessen the number of closures because of flooding,” NJDOT Press Manager Steve Schapiro said.
The project also includes widening Route 47 to provide standard-width outside shoulders, thereby improving safety.
South State Inc., a full-service heavy highway, paving, and utility contractor headquartered nearby, is serving as the general contractor for both projects. Founded in 1971, the family-owned business has partnered with NJDOT on many occasions, and they were awarded the bridge contracts for their low bid.
Both bridges are being rebuilt in stages to maintain continuous traffic flow while construction is underway.
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
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The Route 130 Bridge project is being completed in 10 stages. The northbound side of the bridge was completed first and opened to traffic in May 2025. Two-way traffic is currently using the northbound side of the bridge while the southbound side of the bridge is being reconstructed. NJDOT is using variable message signs to notify motorists of changing traffic patterns.
Flooding has been a regular issue in the area, so the team completed most of the underground drainage improvements early in the project. This included replacing a deteriorated and clogged corrugated metal equalizer pipe.
“A majority of the drainage pipes around the circle were also replaced,” Galamba said. “A new drainage inlet was installed near the liquor store driveway, and we doubled the size of the existing inlets to allow more water to flow into the drainage system. A new tide-flex valve was installed in a drainage chamber along Route 130 to prevent water from the creek at high tide from backfilling the pipes.”
Construction of the flood walls and upgrades to the drainage system have already significantly reduced the frequency of flooding in the area.
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| Dobbs Equipment (SC) |
| Dobbs Equipment (SC) |
Other challenges include the discovery of various unforeseen underground conditions, such as buried foundations and soil contamination.
“The soil issues have affected the schedule for the detention basin work,” Galamba said. “Due to this, the project is expected to be completed a few months later than originally expected. The cost is expected to increase, but the amount has not yet been determined.”
Another challenge was relocating existing utility conduits, as well as coordinating with the utilities and the railroad. The railroad has a bridge in between the Route 130 Bridge and the Route 47 Bridge.
“NJDOT’s designers and construction staff proactively worked with PSE&G to ensure that most of the utility work was completed on time during the early stages of the project,” Galamba said.
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| Richmond Machinery & Equipment |
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“The project team resolved any right of way issues with Conrail and continually coordinates our project work with the railroad to minimize any potential conflicts and to ensure a good working relationship,” she added.
The Route 47 Bridge replacement is being completed in four stages, with traffic managed similarly to the Route 130 project. Traffic was shifted to the northbound lanes to allow for the demolition of the southbound side of the bridge. When the team enters stage two, they will shift traffic to the newly built southbound side of the bridge to demolish and reconstruct the northbound lanes.
The team is using cofferdams to assist them in constructing piers 1 and 2, the south abutment, and the wing wall.
Construction on the Route 130 Bridge began in spring 2023 and is now expected to be completed in late spring 2028. The soil-related delays pushed the expected completion date back about two and a half months.
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| SITECH Mid-South |
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The same issue is also negatively impacting the budget. The federal government is providing 100 percent of the financing for the $54 million bridge replacement project.
Construction on the Route 47 Bridge began in spring 2024 and is expected to be completed by summer 2029, two years later than originally anticipated.
“The utility issues delayed the start of construction and pushed the completion date back from summer 2027 to summer 2029,” Schapiro said.
The Route 47 Bridge project was initially budgeted at $47.8 million and is also fully federally funded. The area’s susceptibility to tidal flooding and the need to relocate existing utility conduits have pushed up construction costs. Currently, the team projects the tab will come in at $51.2 million, $3.4 million above the original budget.
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
Upon completion, the two adjacent bridge projects will provide a more resilient and reliable transportation corridor in South Jersey. The new bridges will reduce flooding-related disruptions, improve safety, and meet the latest government standards.
