Easy to find. Small plastic
container with suitable cammo. Bring pen just in case.
Room for small trades & TBs.
Remember to replace cap tightly, and rehide well so not
exposed.
Grab this cache while you can, because
the circles are vanishing!
The
Marlton Circle is at the intersection of state highways 70 &
73. Originally traffic circles were supposed to move large
volumes of traffic at major intersections (usually three roads),
and initially they worked well. But as cars got faster, and
more cars filled the roads, they became dangerous and now cause
major traffic backups, especially during rush hours and Fridays in
the summer. Today, over 80,000 vehicles pass through the
Marlton Circle every day. The Circle, like Olga's Diner
across the street, has long been a landmark (Olga's Diner should be
spared, unlike the circle). The Marlton Circle was built in
the 1930's, and the cut-through (Rt. 73) was installed in 1974.
The
first traffic circle in New Jersey was built in Pennsauken
(
Airport Circle, where Rts. 30, 130 and 38 meet) in 1925.
Remnants of the circle still remain. Circle construction
continued through the 1920's and 30's. By the 50's, no new
circles were being built, and existing circles started being
modified to improve traffic flow. Of the 67 traffic circles
built in New Jersey, fewer than 30 remain today. Of the eight
circles along Rt. 70, three have been eliminated (Racetrack Circle
at Haddonfield Road, Ellisburg Circle at Rt. 41, and Medford Circle
at Rt. 541), three have been modified with cut-throughs and lights
(Crescent Circle or Airport Circle at US Rts. 30 & 130,
Laurelton/Lakehurst Circle at Rt. 88 in 1986, and Marlton
Circle), and two remain intact (Red Lion Circle at Rt. 206, and
Four Mile Circle at Rt. 72). Along Rt. 73, the Berlin Circle
elimination is now complete.
Route 70 was legislated in 1927 to run from Camden to Lakewood
(changed to Laurelton/Lakehurst in 1929), with construction between
1930-1933 (and extended from Rt. 9 to Rt. 88 from 1937-1938).
Originally known as state Route 40, it was renumbered to Rt. 70 in
1953 (check one of the bridges along Rt. 70 for date & route
number, typically now hidden behind guardrails). It's
official name was the John D. Rockefeller Highway. From
Camden to Medford it runs along the bed of the old
Camden-Marlton-Medford Railroad Line, which was built in 1881, and
abandoned in 1928.
Route 73 was defined in 1927, and constructed from 1930-1932.
At the time it was known as state route S41, and renamed Route 73
in 1953. Following the construction of the Atlantic City
Expressway, Rt. 73 was extended from Rt. 30 to the ACE in 1970.
The
Marlton Circle is scheduled for elimination in the coming
years. Urban Engineers, who was selected to perform the
initial scope development of the circle elimination, originally
predicted the Marlton Circle would be eliminated by 2007. But
with New Jersey's finances as they are, construction has slipped,
and maybe work will start in 2008, with a
completion date of 2010 (don't hold your breath). A local
grass-roots
organization is opposed to the overpass approach, and favors a
grade crossing. When completed, this cache location will be
under water (a retention pond), so don't put this cache off too
long!
Another cache nearby is "Fast Food Nostalgia" (GCRVMY).
A benchmark
(AI4371
is located in the median strip of the circle.
Click
here for details on this survey disk. But be careful -
it's in the center median, and traffic is very heavy. Use
extreme caution!
Updated 13 Feb 2008
Traffic Camera,
Marlton Circle
Looking North
along Rt. 73
Click to view current image |
Can't you see it? Aerial
View of Marlton Circle
looking west along Rt. 70, circa 2002 |
| Artist's view of the circle replacement,
looking east along Route 70 (does not show retention basins).
Route 73 passes over Route 70. |
|
|
Topo Map from 1885. Marlton Circle will be
built just below the two L's in Cropwell. Route 70 roughly
follows the old railroad tracks. |