322 Reconstruction and Detours

With the one side of Route 322 completely closed down through the end of the year due to construction, detours were made by Rowan University Police and the Glassboro Police for all vehicles leaving the campus on Route 322.

The police departments blocked off the road to allow the contractors to do reconstruction in the roads. They are adding in the circle that is part of the Rowan Boulevard expansion and as adding in waste water pipes.

University spokesperson Joe Cardona described the project as “massive.” While they had the ground open to build the circle, they are doing sewer pipe work as well.

According to Reed Layton, the Director of University Police, the two police departments developed the detours at the west end of the campus at Route 322 in order to prevent traffic congestion and potential accidents at the traffic light of Route 322 and Bowe Boulevard-Harvard Road.

Layton also noted that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) approved the detour routes before the police implemented the detour.

Layton urged all drivers entering and leaving the campus to familiarize themselves with the detour to make safe and easy travel around the closed areas during construction.

Layton explained that vehicles have been restricted from traveling through the traffic light at 322 in order to reduce potential accidents. While the detour allows all incoming traffic to the university and the Express Food Mart shopping center, all vehicles leaving the university grounds must make a left at Girard Road, take Hamilton Road to Lehigh Road and make a turn from Lehigh to get back to Route 322.

“We want to control the traffic flow,” Layton said. “The only way to control traffic is to have one lane of traffic [at 322 between Girard and Bowe].”

After traffic congestion backed up traffic for multiple blocks on Harvard, residents submitted complaints. Thus, closing Harvard not only helps to reduce congestion at the traffic light on 322, but it also will help to reduce resident complaints. This closing stretches out the detour another block to Girard and Lehigh.

“It’s a little extra length, but it’s a safer route,” Layton said.