Headline: Who’s Clearing Space Next to Outback on the Black Horse Pike? What Washington Twp. Drivers Need to Know
If you’ve driven the Black Horse Pike/Route 42 corridor through Washington Township lately — especially the stretch that feeds traffic to and from I‑295 — you may have noticed a large swath of land being stripped bare right next to the Outback Steakhouse. The freshly cleared frontage is impossible to miss from the road, and it raises a few familiar questions for neighbors, small-business owners, and commuters: what’s coming, who’s behind it, and how will it affect traffic and the local economy?
Where this is and why it matters
The clearing sits along Route 42/Black Horse Pike in Washington Township (the area that services drivers on the I‑295 corridor). That stretch is already a commercial spine for the township — restaurants, service businesses, shopping plazas and strip centers line the road and feed traffic onto I‑295 and local side streets. Any significant change to a large frontage parcel here can influence rush‑hour backups, restaurant traffic patterns, and customer flow for neighboring stores.
Why the Outback matters in this story
Outback Steakhouse is a national casual‑dining chain known for steaks and Australian‑themed décor; like most standalone chain restaurants it contributes reliably to evening and weekend traffic, brings a regular employee base, and helps stabilize the rent and customer draw for adjacent businesses. On Google Maps the Outback at this intersection functions as a local landmark for drivers and delivery services, and Yelp reviews for Outback locations typically reflect the mixed bag you see with sit‑down chains — steady foot traffic, occasional service complaints, but generally dependable revenue that supports nearby shops.
When a parcel next to a stable restaurant like Outback starts being cleared, developers are often betting on the existing customer base: drive‑throughs or fast‑casual concepts that cater to highway commuters, medical or service offices that need visible frontage, or multi‑tenant retail that benefits from after‑work and weekend dining traffic. Any of those options would change where customers park, where delivery trucks circulate, and how pedestrians move between businesses.
Local development patterns and the Route 42 corridor
This part of Washington Twp. has seen steady commercial turnover and redevelopment pressure for years. Regional reporting outlets like NJ.com and local Patch sites have covered how sections of the Route 42/Black Horse Pike corridor have been targeted for infill, plaza updates, and zoning changes to modernize aging retail strips. Developers often pursue parcels like this one because they offer high visibility from a major arterial and capture both local shoppers and drivers coming off I‑295.
What to expect and what the community should watch for
– Zoning and permits: Before anything is built, the township planning board or zoning department will likely have to sign off on site plans. That’s where neighbors get to see renderings, traffic studies, and proposed uses. If you want specifics, check Washington Township’s planning board agendas or the Gloucester County permit search (township websites and county offices post those agendas and permit applications).
– Traffic impacts: A new restaurant with a drive‑through, a medical office with appointment traffic, or a multi‑tenant retail center can all have different peak hours. Watch for required traffic studies in planning documents — they’ll spell out whether a new driveway will be allowed on Route 42, if a dedicated turn lane is required, and how much additional congestion is projected.
– Local business effects: For nearby independents and small restaurants, a new tenant can be either a boost (more overall foot traffic) or a challenge (competition for customers and parking). The Outback’s presence suggests this stays a dining and service destination — not industrial — but the details matter.
How you can find out more right now
– Google Maps and satellite view: good for watching the timeline of clearing and seeing parking and driveway layouts.
– Township planning board agendas: these will announce any formal applications and public hearings.
– Gloucester County property and permit search: can reveal active building permits and the owner/developer listed on applications.
– Local news outlets and neighborhood forums (including Patch and local Facebook groups): residents often post photos and comments when construction starts.
– Yelp and review sites: useful for understanding how existing businesses — like the Outback — are perceived by locals and whether new competition could shift customer behavior.
Why this story matters to drivers and residents along I‑295
For people who use I‑295 and Route 42 regularly — commuters, delivery drivers, and local residents — changes to large parcels along the Black Horse Pike translate into real, everyday impacts: new turning movements, shifting parking demands, and different peak travel patterns. It’s not just another empty lot being cleared; it’s frontage on a major artery that feeds traffic into Washington Township and the broader I‑295 network.
If you live or work nearby and want to stay in the loop, tune into the township’s planning board calendar, keep an eye on the County’s permit portal, and snap a photo the next time you pass by — then share it with local reporters and neighbors. Development along Route 42 affects all of us who use that corridor, and it pays to be informed.
If anyone in the neighborhood has recent photos, permit numbers, or has heard rumors about who the developer is, send them my way — I’ll track down the planning filings and update readers as soon as solid details surface.




