New Jersey Turnpike

[roadman65]

Well now LOL, there's a novel idea! Putting wording on an exit sign to help get traffic to the right place. Who would have thought? (chuckle!)

My GPS is not working today lol!

However we have the Disney places on the signs here, especially on I-4.

I have no problem with the idea, but it does seem strange though.

[storm2k]

Finally have some news on MUTCD signage between 9 and 14.

First, for you button copy enthusiasts, this sign bridge is gone completely. Has new MUTCD complaint bridge.

Seeing the empty gap at the bottom of the 95/NJTP pullthroughs. Did not see greenout. Not sure if they will add New York later or what the plan is there.

New sign up at 13A. Newark Airport is in a white on brown box, like this. Not using either the EWR logo (like NJDOT does) or the generic MUTCD airport plane symbol, which is an interesting choice to me.

Gore point exit signs are up. In places where there isn't a lot of room, they're putting them vertically on a skinny sign, with the word exit on top, exit number in the middle, and arrow on the bottom. they need this for several exits where there isn't a lot of room. they're not using very sturdy supports either it looks like. I think the days where they use the steel tubes for small green signs is done.

Still curious to see how they're going to handle signing the connections at 14 and the Newark Bay Extension.

[cl94]

I can confirm that several signs north of the recent widening have been replaced. Drove the Turnpike south of the Garden State yesterday afternoon.

Has there been any talk of widening the Turnpike to 6 lanes south of Exit 4? Volumes were quite high yesterday when driving back from the Birmingham meet.

[jeffandnicole]

I can confirm that several signs north of the recent widening have been replaced. Drove the Turnpike south of the Garden State yesterday afternoon.

Has there been any talk of widening the Turnpike to 6 lanes south of Exit 4? Volumes were quite high yesterday when driving back from the Birmingham meet.

There is no active talking going on from what I can see...at least that involves outside consultants, design, funding, etc.  When overpasses have been replaced they have lengthened them to permit 3, if not 4, lanes per direction. 

The volume is high most afternoon rush hours southbound between Interchanges 4 and 3 where it's becoming common to experience some congestion especially around the service plaza and approaching Interchange 3, and on many summer and holiday weekends.  The situation is getting worse during those time periods, based on my observations.  Outside of that, they are generally free-flowing. 

[cpzilliacus]

I can confirm that several signs north of the recent widening have been replaced. Drove the Turnpike south of the Garden State yesterday afternoon.

Has there been any talk of widening the Turnpike to 6 lanes south of Exit 4? Volumes were quite high yesterday when driving back from the Birmingham meet.

There is no active talking going on from what I can see...at least that involves outside consultants, design, funding, etc.  When overpasses have been replaced they have lengthened them to permit 3, if not 4, lanes per direction. 

The volume is high most afternoon rush hours southbound between Interchanges 4 and 3 where it's becoming common to experience some congestion especially around the service plaza and approaching Interchange 3, and on many summer and holiday weekends.  The situation is getting worse during those time periods, based on my observations.  Outside of that, they are generally free-flowing. 

Isn't it understood that the NJTA management wants to see what the impact of completing I-95 through the interchange at Bristol, Pennsylvania (if the PTC ever gets it done) will have on Turnpike traffic and revenue between 1 and 6 before they decide to spend dollars on a design for and widening of the Turnpike south of 4?

[cl94]

I'm well aware of that, but it'll still be faster for through traffic to continue using the Turnpike, if only because of the higher speed limit and not having to drive through Philly.

[NJRoadfan]

Increased traffic, particularly southbound, is likely a side effect of the Exit 6 to 9 widening project. Now that the traffic bottleneck has been removed. It'll be interesting to see where the new bottlenecks are further south in the regional road network. Its clearly affecting the NJTP-Delaware Memorial Bridge corridor, don't know about the PA Turnpike system.

[jeffandnicole]

Increased traffic, particularly southbound, is likely a side effect of the Exit 6 to 9 widening project. Now that the traffic bottleneck has been removed. It'll be interesting to see where the new bottlenecks are further south in the regional road network. Its clearly affecting the NJTP-Delaware Memorial Bridge corridor, don't know about the PA Turnpike system.

I don't think it has that effect. There's a construction project on 295 In Delaware that they clearly messed up with the stripping and signage, and it's causing some major backups thru the toll plaza.

As far as 1-4 widening, I don't know if they're necessarily waiting, as any new overpass design even as far back as the mid 1990's (NJ 42) accounted for a potential widening.  Compared to the days of the old Interchange 1, they at least haven't had to close the highway at Interchange 4 due to insane congestion issues.

[Alps]

Increased traffic, particularly southbound, is likely a side effect of the Exit 6 to 9 widening project. Now that the traffic bottleneck has been removed. It'll be interesting to see where the new bottlenecks are further south in the regional road network. Its clearly affecting the NJTP-Delaware Memorial Bridge corridor, don't know about the PA Turnpike system.

I don't think it has that effect. There's a construction project on 295 In Delaware that they clearly messed up with the stripping and signage, and it's causing some major backups thru the toll plaza.

As far as 1-4 widening, I don't know if they're necessarily waiting, as any new overpass design even as far back as the mid 1990's (NJ 42) accounted for a potential widening.  Compared to the days of the old Interchange 1, they at least haven't had to close the highway at Interchange 4 due to insane congestion issues.

Unfortunately I think you're wrong on both counts. Removal of the merge bottleneck does allow more long-distance traffic to get down the Turnpike at once. Also, they are very much waiting on the PA connection to open to reassess widening.

[cl94]

Unfortunately I think you're wrong on both counts. Removal of the merge bottleneck does allow more long-distance traffic to get down the Turnpike at once. Also, they are very much waiting on the PA connection to open to reassess widening.
[/quote]

I agree completely with you and NJ on SB. The bottleneck point is now south of the PA turnpike, meaning that more SB long-distance traffic can indeed get to the narrow section.

And as I said before, I'm not shocked that NJTA wants to wait until the connection opens (that is, if PTC ever finishes the damn thing). I was more wondering if plans were already drawn up for potential widening scenarios so they wouldn't have to design something later on and delay construction.

Granted, once the connection opens, I'll probably drive through it once and then continue to cross at Delaware because it's more direct for through traffic, but other people and truckers might be less inclined to do so due to tolls.

[SignBridge]

Even with tolls, I would be much more inclined to stay on the well maintained NJT than to take my chances with traffic congestion on I-95 thru Center-City Philadelphia.

[Alps]

Unfortunately I think you're wrong on both counts. Removal of the merge bottleneck does allow more long-distance traffic to get down the Turnpike at once. Also, they are very much waiting on the PA connection to open to reassess widening.

I agree completely with you and NJ on SB. The bottleneck point is now south of the PA turnpike, meaning that more SB long-distance traffic can indeed get to the narrow section.

And as I said before, I'm not shocked that NJTA wants to wait until the connection opens (that is, if PTC ever finishes the damn thing). I was more wondering if plans were already drawn up for potential widening scenarios so they wouldn't have to design something later on and delay construction.

Granted, once the connection opens, I'll probably drive through it once and then continue to cross at Delaware because it's more direct for through traffic, but other people and truckers might be less inclined to do so due to tolls.

What do you mean drawn up? They're not going to spend millions on design efforts until they've decided if they want to spend tens to hundreds of millions on the widening.

[1995hoo]

I don't think it has that effect. There's a construction project on 295 In Delaware that they clearly messed up with the stripping and signage, and it's causing some major backups thru the toll plaza.

....

Seems to me whether stripping causes a backup depends on what she looks like. 

[kkt]

Seems to me whether stripping causes a backup depends on what she looks like. 

[Steve D]

Even with tolls, I would be much more inclined to stay on the well maintained NJT than to take my chances with traffic congestion on I-95 thru Center-City Philadelphia.

Totally agree - why would anyone driving from NJTP for south of Wilmington want to take the new 95 route (except for sight seeing)? It's longer mileage wise and more time, even with a moderate backup at NJTP exit 1 toll.  It's more like a loop than a through route.

[Don'tKnowYet]

Even with tolls, I would be much more inclined to stay on the well maintained NJT than to take my chances with traffic congestion on I-95 thru Center-City Philadelphia.

Totally agree - why would anyone driving from NJTP for south of Wilmington want to take the new 95 route (except for sight seeing)? It's longer mileage wise and more time, even with a moderate backup at NJTP exit 1 toll.  It's more like a loop than a through route.

Concur.  In addition, the Turnpike offers comforts that Pennsylvania cannot.  If you have to take an emergency dump, a Turnpike service area is at worst 10 minutes up the mainline.  I would not want to exit onto a surface street in the City of Brotherly Love to take a dumpski.

Plus, if you are disabled I'd rather be in the comforts of Turnpike tow trucks and not a chop shop off the Interstate in Philly.

[jeffandnicole]

I don't think it has that effect. There's a construction project on 295 In Delaware that they clearly messed up with the stripping and signage, and it's causing some major backups thru the toll plaza.

....

Seems to me whether stripping causes a backup depends on what she looks like. 

Darn extra p!

Even with tolls, I would be much more inclined to stay on the well maintained NJT than to take my chances with traffic congestion on I-95 thru Center-City Philadelphia.

Totally agree - why would anyone driving from NJTP for south of Wilmington want to take the new 95 route (except for sight seeing)? It's longer mileage wise and more time, even with a moderate backup at NJTP exit 1 toll.  It's more like a loop than a through route.

Concur.  In addition, the Turnpike offers comforts that Pennsylvania cannot.  If you have to take an emergency dump, a Turnpike service area is at worst 10 minutes up the mainline.  I would not want to exit onto a surface street in the City of Brotherly Love to take a dumpski.

Plus, if you are disabled I'd rather be in the comforts of Turnpike tow trucks and not a chop shop off the Interstate in Philly.

Well, the service plazas aren't *that* frequent...you should hit one every 30 minutes or so though.

And many people will take 95 thru Philly because they are simply following the signs for 95.  It already occurs fairly often going north thru Delaware.

[dgolub]

I was riding on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail this afternoon and observed from the train that there's new MUTCD-compliant signage on the Newark Bay Extension.  Also, it looks like I-78 is now signed approaching the Holland Tunnel.  No photos, unfortunately, since it snuck up on me.

[storm2k]

I was riding on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail this afternoon and observed from the train that there's new MUTCD-compliant signage on the Newark Bay Extension.  Also, it looks like I-78 is now signed approaching the Holland Tunnel.  No photos, unfortunately, since it snuck up on me.

Where at? There have been MUTCD signs for 14B for a while now. Did they replace others? I imagine that the ones at 14A will be replaced as part of the interchange work there.

[OracleUsr]

First time I headed to New York from DC I made the I-95 mistake, then took 168 to the Turnpike.

[dgolub]

I was riding on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail this afternoon and observed from the train that there's new MUTCD-compliant signage on the Newark Bay Extension.  Also, it looks like I-78 is now signed approaching the Holland Tunnel.  No photos, unfortunately, since it snuck up on me.

Where at? There have been MUTCD signs for 14B for a while now. Did they replace others? I imagine that the ones at 14A will be replaced as part of the interchange work there.

The Columbus Boulevard exit now has new signage.  The sign for the exit itself has an exit only tab, and the sign for the Holland Tunnel now has an I-78 shield.  That's where the train passed under.

[ixnay]

I don't think it has that effect. There's a construction project on 295 In Delaware that they clearly messed up with the stripping and signage, and it's causing some major backups thru the toll plaza.

....

Seems to me whether stripping causes a backup depends on what she looks like. 

Darn extra p!

Even with tolls, I would be much more inclined to stay on the well maintained NJT than to take my chances with traffic congestion on I-95 thru Center-City Philadelphia.

Totally agree - why would anyone driving from NJTP for south of Wilmington want to take the new 95 route (except for sight seeing)? It's longer mileage wise and more time, even with a moderate backup at NJTP exit 1 toll.  It's more like a loop than a through route.

Concur.  In addition, the Turnpike offers comforts that Pennsylvania cannot.  If you have to take an emergency dump, a Turnpike service area is at worst 10 minutes up the mainline.  I would not want to exit onto a surface street in the City of Brotherly Love to take a dumpski.

Plus, if you are disabled I'd rather be in the comforts of Turnpike tow trucks and not a chop shop off the Interstate in Philly.

Well, the service plazas aren't *that* frequent...you should hit one every 30 minutes or so though.

And many people will take 95 thru Philly because they are simply following the signs for 95.  It already occurs fairly often going north thru Delaware.

Here's a list of them.  Plan your drink and fuel consumption accordingly.

http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/our-roadways.html#service

ixnay

[storm2k]

I was riding on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail this afternoon and observed from the train that there's new MUTCD-compliant signage on the Newark Bay Extension.  Also, it looks like I-78 is now signed approaching the Holland Tunnel.  No photos, unfortunately, since it snuck up on me.

Where at? There have been MUTCD signs for 14B for a while now. Did they replace others? I imagine that the ones at 14A will be replaced as part of the interchange work there.

The Columbus Boulevard exit now has new signage.  The sign for the exit itself has an exit only tab, and the sign for the Holland Tunnel now has an I-78 shield.  That's where the train passed under.

Interesting. Wasn't sure they'd replace those signs. They were replaced in the last 7 or 8 years and didn't have any Turnpike arrows or anything.

[cl94]

I was riding on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail this afternoon and observed from the train that there's new MUTCD-compliant signage on the Newark Bay Extension.  Also, it looks like I-78 is now signed approaching the Holland Tunnel.  No photos, unfortunately, since it snuck up on me.

Where at? There have been MUTCD signs for 14B for a while now. Did they replace others? I imagine that the ones at 14A will be replaced as part of the interchange work there.

The Columbus Boulevard exit now has new signage.  The sign for the exit itself has an exit only tab, and the sign for the Holland Tunnel now has an I-78 shield.  That's where the train passed under.

Interesting. Wasn't sure they'd replace those signs. They were replaced in the last 7 or 8 years and didn't have any Turnpike arrows or anything.

From what I can tell, everything north of the widening is being replaced (if not already done) regardless of age.

[jeffandnicole]

To put it in a simple list:

Service Areas by Milepost:

NB:
5.4
39.4
58.7
78.7
92.9
116

SB:
116
111.6 (Easterly Roadway Only)
92.9
71.7
58.7
30.2
5.4

Thus, they are definitely more frequent the further North you are in the state.