(Lindenwold, NJ) – Route 70 is a main artery that cuts through Camden County from east to west and carries more than 40,000 cars a day from Burlington County to Pennsauken Township and vice versa. This nine miles of state highway has been going through a $155.1 million facelift since 2022, which is now coming to an end. Based on the size and scope of this project, the Camden County Commissioners wanted to work with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to create a new sense of place for motorists and pedestrians. This new initiative will be implemented by making a significant capital investment into a beautification campaign that will form the foundation for a cleaner and greener community.
“I want to thank the NJDOT Commissioner for her help in creating a more aesthetically pleasing highway with perennial native plants that truly represents the garden state,” Cappelli said. “This capital project will activate these green spaces throughout the more than nine miles in Camden County’s two biggest municipalities. Moving forward this work will redefine Route 70 and ultimately make our community a better place to live.”
The $155.1 million state-funded Route 70 corridor safety and improvement project will upgrade traffic signals at 27 intersections, replace or install four Dynamic Message Signs, improve drainage, sidewalks, and resurface approximately 9 miles of Route 70 between Route 38 in Pennsauken and Cooper Avenue in Evesham. In addition to milling and paving Route 70, the N. Maple Ave loop ramps and the Route 70/Route 73 interchange ramps will be repaved as well. The project is expected to be completed by winter 2026.
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s $155-million-dollar Route 70 improvement project is a major investment in the safety, reliability, and long-term condition of one of South Jersey’s most important roadways,” NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said. “Working with Camden County, we identified an opportunity to incorporate landscaping in the median to enhance the appearance of the Route 70 corridor. This is a good example of what can happen when state and local partners bring different perspectives to the same project.”
This current beautification plan is part of a long-term award-winning strategy to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment. This includes projects on Springdale Road, Cuthbert Boulveard, Chapel Avenue and Grove Street that have in some cases created new medians along these corridors and populated them with native landscaping and decorative lighting. The reconstruction of these roadways has been a benefit to neighbors and the community at large once they have been completed.
“You put extra effort into the things you care about, and taking the time to clean up the environment around Route 70 will show how much we care about our slice of South Jersey,” Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) said. “I know these improvements will be noticeable to everyone traveling through.”
State Senator James Beach looked back at previous projects and ahead to the proposed landscaping plan.
“Camden County has always stepped forward to give this highway a facelift, whether it was the wildflower program or the lawn maintenance they know the value of creating a real sense of place,” Beach said. “I’m looking forward to this new beautification plan and support the commissioners and this program.”
Mayor of Cherry Hill Township, David Fleisher talked about the impact of the project on his community.
“We have been advocating for the beautification of the Route 70 project, and pleased that the county has stepped in to make it happen,” said Mayor Dave Fleisher. “This is a win for our residents and the community.”
Assemblywoman Melinda Kane talked about the improvements to the major thoroughfare that connects thousands of Camden County residents.
“Route 70 is a vital connection for our South Jersey communities, and investing in its future means investing in the people who rely on it every day,” Kane said. “These improvements will make travel safer and more accessible while creating a cleaner, greener corridor that reflects the pride we have in our communities we call home.”
The Camden County Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining over 1,200 miles of county roadway and 50 bridges. They are dedicated to making our area safer for motorists and pedestrians through county highway construction projects and road maintenance, including pothole repairs, street sweeping, grass cutting and storm drainage upkeep. The Public Works Department is located in Lindenwold where personnel are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve the residents of Camden County.
Pennsauken Borough Patrick Olivo commented on the ongoing partnership his municipality has with the Camden County Commissioners.
“This beautification project is particularly meaningful for Pennsauken,” Olivo said. “Our community continues to grow, evolve, and invest in its future, and the appearance of our major roadways plays an important role in how residents feel about their community and how visitors and prospective businesses view our township.”
Commissioner Jeffrey Nash has been a long-time proponent of a clean and green environment said the landscaping plan will be one of the most highly recognizable initiatives the county will do during the planting season.
“Route 70 may be one of the most traversed roadways in South Jersey that carries thousands of people a day,” Nash said. “Now we will embark on a plan to ensure drivers and pedestrians know that they are in Camden County when they drive on this main thoroughfare.”
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