I-95/Penna Turnpike Interchange

[ixnay]

Throughout the country, there are beltways that are completed 1/2 to 3/4 around a city.  And full beltways can even be more confusing in my opinion.  Almost always, there's going to be at least another route that crosses the beltway twice.

I would think beltways are pretty easy to discern if you just use the "inner loop/outer loop" designations that Baltimore and Washington use.

Atlanta (I-285 with a short multiplex with I-85), Cincinnati (I-275 with a short multiplex with I-74), Columbus (OH) (I-270), and Indianapolis (I-465 with a 21 mile-long multiplex with I-74) have full beltways.  Do they refer to "inner loop" and "outer loop"?

ixnay

[roadman65]

Indy uses cardinal directions around each end of the loop.  I have no idea what the local lingo is though, but how it is on a sign.

[tdindy88]

Indy uses cardinal directions around each end of the loop.  I have no idea what the local lingo is though, but how it is on a sign.

We use nothing special, not even inner loop or outer loop. Usually we just say what side of town and the direction of travel if referring to anything on 465. Northbound 465 on the east side for example.

[cl94]

Throughout the country, there are beltways that are completed 1/2 to 3/4 around a city.  And full beltways can even be more confusing in my opinion.  Almost always, there's going to be at least another route that crosses the beltway twice.

I would think beltways are pretty easy to discern if you just use the "inner loop/outer loop" designations that Baltimore and Washington use.

Atlanta (I-285 with a short multiplex with I-85), Cincinnati (I-275 with a short multiplex with I-74), Columbus (OH) (I-270), and Indianapolis (I-465 with a 21 mile-long multiplex with I-74) have full beltways.  Do they refer to "inner loop" and "outer loop"?

I-270 in Ohio uses directions of travel (one driving in a loop will be on it when it's signed north, east, south, and west), but local lingo is to use location along with direction of travel. Signed directions change at Georgesville Rd near Grove City, US 33/SR 161 in Dublin, SR 3 in Westerville, and Alum Creek Dr in Obetz. No "inner" or "outer".

[jwolfer]

Throughout the country, there are beltways that are completed 1/2 to 3/4 around a city.  And full beltways can even be more confusing in my opinion.  Almost always, there's going to be at least another route that crosses the beltway twice.

I would think beltways are pretty easy to discern if you just use the "inner loop/outer loop" designations that Baltimore and Washington use.

Atlanta (I-285 with a short multiplex with I-85), Cincinnati (I-275 with a short multiplex with I-74), Columbus (OH) (I-270), and Indianapolis (I-465 with a 21 mile-long multiplex with I-74) have full beltways.  Do they refer to "inner loop" and "outer loop"?

ixnay

Jacksonville now has a full beltway. It's called the East Beltway and West Beltway. It has become common use.  The entire beltway is SR 9a. Prior to the east beltway being up to standard it was signed as and known as 9a.  With it all being signed as 295 there is no cinfusion.  Cardinal directions are north-south on both halves, switching at the 95 junctions. 

Exits numbering begins at the south junction( which is exit 61, it avoids exit 0) with 95 and go clockwise

[PHLBOS]

I live in the area and they most certainly do just say "The Turnpike" for the PA Turnpike about 70% of the time. As for the various extensions on either turnpike, they are a non-issue because they all have unique names (as in there is no Northeast Extension on the NJ Turnpike, etc) and these names are always used, sometimes by themselves as in "delays on the Northeast Extension".

I also live in the area (it'll be 25 years come next month) and if the generic Turnpike (sans the PA or NJ prefixes) term is ever used in reports; chances are it's either:

a. Due to the fuller, more complete name was already mentioned at the beginning of the report.

or

b. Such is followed by an identifying landmark/location that easily distinguishes which Turnpike the reporter is referring to (examples: accident along the westbound Turnpike at Valley Forge, or southbound Turnpike accident at Exit 4).   

[jeffandnicole]

Over 40 years living here for me!

I probably just tune out when they are referring to the PA Turnpike, because they will do the Philly area report first, then switch over to Jersey.  If there's a huge issue in New Jersey and they happen to start with Jersey's traffic, they are usually very good in making it very clear they are talking about Jersey roads and/or the New Jersey Turnpike.

On newspaper sites, the headline may be a bit more generic in nature, in order for you to click thru to the story, so they can increase that all important ad revenue.

[qguy]

Over 40 years living here for me!

I probably just tune out when they are referring to the PA Turnpike, because they will do the Philly area report first, then switch over to Jersey.  If there's a huge issue in New Jersey and they happen to start with Jersey's traffic, they are usually very good in making it very clear they are talking about Jersey roads and/or the New Jersey Turnpike.

Yes, KYW NewsRadio's traffic reports on the 2s are generally a model of both precision and concision. When I lived in the Philadelphia area, I practically lived by them. I no longer live there, but I drive in to work there from time to time. They can be a real day-saver.

[jeffandnicole]

Over 40 years living here for me!

I probably just tune out when they are referring to the PA Turnpike, because they will do the Philly area report first, then switch over to Jersey.  If there's a huge issue in New Jersey and they happen to start with Jersey's traffic, they are usually very good in making it very clear they are talking about Jersey roads and/or the New Jersey Turnpike.

Yes, KYW NewsRadio's traffic reports on the 2s are generally a model of both precision and concision. When I lived in the Philadelphia area, I practically lived by them. I no longer live there, but I drive in to work there from time to time. They can be a real day-saver.

I wish.  Sigh. 

I frequently find NJ's reporting of routine traffic issues to be incorrect, as if they're slow to pick up on jams, and slow to report things are back to normal.  And sadly, they're still the best of the bunch.  I'm not sure exactly how these traffic services get their info, but it's not very accurate.  Even NJ stations (101.5, for example) aren't any better.

[Henry]

Throughout the country, there are beltways that are completed 1/2 to 3/4 around a city.  And full beltways can even be more confusing in my opinion.  Almost always, there's going to be at least another route that crosses the beltway twice.

I would think beltways are pretty easy to discern if you just use the "inner loop/outer loop" designations that Baltimore and Washington use.

Atlanta (I-285 with a short multiplex with I-85), Cincinnati (I-275 with a short multiplex with I-74), Columbus (OH) (I-270), and Indianapolis (I-465 with a 21 mile-long multiplex with I-74) have full beltways.  Do they refer to "inner loop" and "outer loop"?

ixnay

Jacksonville now has a full beltway. It's called the East Beltway and West Beltway. It has become common use.  The entire beltway is SR 9a. Prior to the east beltway being up to standard it was signed as and known as 9a.  With it all being signed as 295 there is no cinfusion.  Cardinal directions are north-south on both halves, switching at the 95 junctions. 

Exits numbering begins at the south junction( which is exit 61, it avoids exit 0) with 95 and go clockwise

So far, both complete beltways in NC (I-485 in Charlotte, I-440 in Raleigh) have used the Inner/Outer signing method. I find it easier to follow on these routes, since all traffic on each loop travels in the same direction (Inner travels in one direction, Outer in the other).

As for I-295 being extended into PA, I think this makes the most sense, as it brings an existing route into another state, and is less confusing than I-195 or I-395 would be.

[qguy]

Over 40 years living here for me!

I probably just tune out when they are referring to the PA Turnpike, because they will do the Philly area report first, then switch over to Jersey.  If there's a huge issue in New Jersey and they happen to start with Jersey's traffic, they are usually very good in making it very clear they are talking about Jersey roads and/or the New Jersey Turnpike.

Yes, KYW NewsRadio's traffic reports on the 2s are generally a model of both precision and concision. When I lived in the Philadelphia area, I practically lived by them. I no longer live there, but I drive in to work there from time to time. They can be a real day-saver.

I wish.  Sigh. 

I frequently find NJ's reporting of routine traffic issues to be incorrect, as if they're slow to pick up on jams, and slow to report things are back to normal.  And sadly, they're still the best of the bunch.  I'm not sure exactly how these traffic services get their info, but it's not very accurate.  Even NJ stations (101.5, for example) aren't any better.

I'll take your word for the NJ side. While I was living in Phila and working at PennDOT Dist 6 in the same building as their traffic management center, though, they were spot on for the PA side.

South Jersey does get the short end of the stick in so many ways it seems. 

[storm2k]

Over 40 years living here for me!

I probably just tune out when they are referring to the PA Turnpike, because they will do the Philly area report first, then switch over to Jersey.  If there's a huge issue in New Jersey and they happen to start with Jersey's traffic, they are usually very good in making it very clear they are talking about Jersey roads and/or the New Jersey Turnpike.

Yes, KYW NewsRadio's traffic reports on the 2s are generally a model of both precision and concision. When I lived in the Philadelphia area, I practically lived by them. I no longer live there, but I drive in to work there from time to time. They can be a real day-saver.

I wish.  Sigh. 

I frequently find NJ's reporting of routine traffic issues to be incorrect, as if they're slow to pick up on jams, and slow to report things are back to normal.  And sadly, they're still the best of the bunch.  I'm not sure exactly how these traffic services get their info, but it's not very accurate.  Even NJ stations (101.5, for example) aren't any better.

I'll take your word for the NJ side. While I was living in Phila and working at PennDOT Dist 6 in the same building as their traffic management center, though, they were spot on for the PA side.

South Jersey does get the short end of the stick in so many ways it seems. 

Jersey as a whole does. The New York stations are very hit and miss. WCBS does a decent job (especially when Tom Kaminski is reporting, he does also benefit from expanded reports during rush hours). WINS mostly pretends that there are no roads outside of the 5-boros. NJ 101.5 used to be decent, but they're not even worth putting on now. I don't travel enough in Southern Jersey to know how it is down there but KYW does really make SNJ a second thought for the most part (although when I was working in my old job's Bala Cynwyd office, they were pretty invaluable for hearing about just how bad the Schuylkill was to get back to Jersey).

[roadman65]

I will tell you why traffic reports leave out a whole lot.  Its time!  They are given only 30 seconds to report the roads which does not give you much time.  Even on the 6 o clock news, the reason why the sports is sometimes hurried is because they ran over on the news stories.  If they need more time to cover a story, then it comes out of the sports!  In radio x amount of time is allotted for traffic and even so, someone must sponsor the report unless your Z88 in Orlando where they are one of the few that does not get sponsors all because the fact they're listener supported.

[ekt8750]

I use Google Maps for traffic these days. It is way more accurate than its not and now a days it'll recommend a route based on mileage and traffic. I've stopped listening to the radio for traffic altogether.

[bzakharin]

KYW is as good as they get, I think. The turnpike is usually disambiguated pretty well by context for locals, but people coming from, say, north NJ or the NYC area only really care about one turnpike, so it's an issue for them. They are also pretty good on NJ in the immediate Philly suburbs (295 from the Delaware state line to exit 36 or so, NJ Turnpike south of Exit 8 and larger local roads west of that area) and during the summer, shore traffic (mostly just the Atlantic City Expressway, 55, 42, and the Garden State Parkway south of exit 38). What's missing is South Jersey east of the Turnpike, and there's really no good coverage there by any radio station.

NYC traffic reports are not as good I think, in that they cater even more to locals, not mentioning delays due to ongoing construction, and not identifying any NYC area interstates by number.

[02 Park Ave]

On the NYC reports, if a back-up on a given road is a daily occurrence it is not mentioned.  They only report the out of ordinary.  This does not help out-of-town travelers.

[roadman65]

Here in Florida we have people like Deano O Neil on Positive Hits Z88 who does his reports catered to locals.  He refers to FL 528 as its name which is hardly even signed.  Most visitors (we have a lot due to Sea World, Universal, and Disney) do not know it by "The Beachline" and know it by what its signed as "TOLL FL 528."

Not to mention his station is supposed to be Christian music station with Christian based commentary and those with strong morals as listeners. They pride themselves to be one in setting an example of the truth, and yet the truth is that many tourists listen to their station as much as locals.

[storm2k]

KYW is as good as they get, I think. The turnpike is usually disambiguated pretty well by context for locals, but people coming from, say, north NJ or the NYC area only really care about one turnpike, so it's an issue for them. They are also pretty good on NJ in the immediate Philly suburbs (295 from the Delaware state line to exit 36 or so, NJ Turnpike south of Exit 8 and larger local roads west of that area) and during the summer, shore traffic (mostly just the Atlantic City Expressway, 55, 42, and the Garden State Parkway south of exit 38). What's missing is South Jersey east of the Turnpike, and there's really no good coverage there by any radio station.

NYC traffic reports are not as good I think, in that they cater even more to locals, not mentioning delays due to ongoing construction, and not identifying any NYC area interstates by number.

No one identifies interstates in the City by number. Especially because a number will be on multiple expressways, or the number changes.

[bzakharin]

KYW is as good as they get, I think. The turnpike is usually disambiguated pretty well by context for locals, but people coming from, say, north NJ or the NYC area only really care about one turnpike, so it's an issue for them. They are also pretty good on NJ in the immediate Philly suburbs (295 from the Delaware state line to exit 36 or so, NJ Turnpike south of Exit 8 and larger local roads west of that area) and during the summer, shore traffic (mostly just the Atlantic City Expressway, 55, 42, and the Garden State Parkway south of exit 38). What's missing is South Jersey east of the Turnpike, and there's really no good coverage there by any radio station.

NYC traffic reports are not as good I think, in that they cater even more to locals, not mentioning delays due to ongoing construction, and not identifying any NYC area interstates by number.

No one identifies interstates in the City by number. Especially because a number will be on multiple expressways, or the number changes.

No one who lives there. Someone who is planning a trip to or through the area will look at maps and note the numbers, especially interstate ones even if the names are there too. I-95 is the biggest problem since many people take it long distance through NYC (though I prefer GS Parkway to Thruway/287 to bypass the city unless my destination is in it).

[SignBridge]

Well...........I just spent a few days in Bucks County, Pa. and as I drove thru the I-95 overpasses on the Pennsy Pike I was amazed to see that finally, at long last construction of the interchange has begun! (No sign of it a year ago)

There are new piers in place for at least one ramp and construction machines are working along the right-of-way east and west. Never thought it would actually start, but it's happening.

In addition, the new toll plaza behind the Parx Casino (where the old rest-stops were) is finally taking shape. The overhead structure that will support the E-Z Pass antennas over the express lanes is in place.

It's about friggin' time! 

[Zeffy]

Well...........I just spent a few days in Bucks County, Pa. and as I drove thru the I-95 overpasses on the Pennsy Pike I was amazed to see that finally, at long last construction of the interchange has begun! (No sign of it a year ago)

There are new piers in place for at least one ramp and construction machines are working along the right-of-way east and west. Never thought it would actually start, but it's happening.

In addition, the new toll plaza behind the Parx Casino (where the old rest-stops were) is finally taking shape. The overhead structure that will support the E-Z Pass antennas over the express lanes is in place.

It's about friggin' time!

This is delightful news. I just hope it really doesn't take another 7 years to build an interchange that is kind of needed at this point.

[SignBridge]

Yeah, kind of needed. I've been waiting almost 40 years for this, since I first drove thru there as a young guy and was in disbelief that I couldn't go from the Turnpike onto I-95. Unheard of on the New York Thruway!

It probably will take another 7 years knowing the PTC. And again I feel compelled to point out the entire original New Jersey Turnpike was built in 2 friggin years! Yes, it was a lot simpler in 1951, but that's what used to get done with leftover World War II style determination and a will to get the job done. We could use some of that today!

[TravelingBethelite]

Way back when I got into this stuff, I always wondered why there was a gap there. When I learned why, I thought those who got into the way were a buncha peabrains; I may or may not still think that. I've been waiting for this ever since then; boy, will it be nice to be able drive on I-95 straight from NYC to Baltimore without having to get through that mess.  Good for them.

[SignBridge]

It'll still be faster to go from NYC-to-Baltimore using the NJ Turnpike or I-295 to the Del. Mem. Bridge. I-95 thru Philadelphia can be a tough ride.......

[TravelingBethelite]

It'll still be faster to go from NYC-to-Baltimore using the NJ Turnpike or I-295 to the Del. Mem. Bridge. I-95 thru Philadelphia can be a tough ride.......

Regardless of whether it's faster or not, it'll be nice for I-95 to finally be a straight shot from NYC through the Mid-Atlantic.