Beginning at 9:00 p.m. tonight, NJDOT’s contractor, Conti Enterprises, will close the ramp from I-295 southbound to Route 42 southbound until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 17 to permit the installation of test piles.

The following detour will be in effect for those trying to access Route 42 southbound from I-295 southbound:

Continue on I-295 southbound to I-76 westbound. Take the Market Street Exit and make a left onto Market Street. Take exit to I-76 eastbound, proceed on I-76 to eastbound to Route 42 southbound.

Variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with Direct Connection. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information before upcoming lane closures or traffic shifts.

New Jersey apparently is headed for the first gasoline tax increase since 1988 to finance bridge and road repairs. On Sept. 27, Gov. Christie indicated a willingness to increase the gasoline tax provided there were corresponding reductions in other taxes — such as the estate tax and inheritance taxes. Christie also mentioned making state income tax…

Newswise — Solar energy pricing is at an all-time low, according to a new report released by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Driven by lower installed costs, improved project performance, and a race to build projects ahead of a reduction in a key federal incentive, utility-scale solar project developers have been negotiating power sales agreements with utilities at prices averaging just 5¢/kWh. These prices reflect receipt of the 30% federal investment tax credit, which is scheduled to decline to 10% after 2016, and would be higher if not for that incentive. By comparison, average wholesale electricity prices across the United States ranged from 3 to 6 cents/kWh in 2014, depending on the region.