New Jersey

[jeffandnicole]

A little late on this one, but NJDOT has an online public comment period ending Fri 8/9/24 regarding expanding US 1's Hard Shoulder Running (HSR) project where only 2 lanes in each direction are normally available.  The HSR project will provide for a 3rd lane in both directions during both the morning and afternoon rush hours (6-10am, 4-7pm).  After a successful HSR pilot and implementation on US 1 between Independence Way and Raymond Road, NJDOT will expand it northward from CR 522/Promenade Blvd to Aaron Road,  The only exception will be SB at Finnegans Lane, where presumably there's a backup in the jughandle onto US 1. The shoulder lane will continue to be forced off into the jughandle; 2 SB lanes will remain thru the intersection, and the HSR will pick up after the intersection.

The original HSR project provided for non-signalized intersections, driveways or parking lots that had yield signs or no control to be changed to Stop signed-controlled intersections, along with a sign informing motorists of the HSR. On the plus side, the speed limit remained at 55 mph.

Link to the announcement, presentation and comment submission:
https://route1hsrpilot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rt1HSR-VPICFlyer%20English%202024-07-22.pdf

[roadman65]

I was reading the state DOT website says both construction projects on US 22 in Union should be finished Summer 2024.

Has anyone driven by any of the two at either Morris Avenue or Chestnut Street or even both to see if the area looks near completed?

[storm2k]

Route 206 Construction Resumes In Hillsborough

During the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Mayor John Ciccarelli said crews were out on Route 206 on Monday doing surveying work.

With the new contractor finally in place, they're actually picking the work back up on the 206 project. I have seen that the new finish date is 2027, I assume this means everything from Brown Ave south to the bypass.

[NJRoadfan]

I was reading the state DOT website says both construction projects on US 22 in Union should be finished Summer 2024.

Has anyone driven by any of the two at either Morris Avenue or Chestnut Street or even both to see if the area looks near completed?

Chestnut St. overpass is done. The GSP interchange area is still a work in progress.

[Dough4872]

https://6abc.com/post/middle-thoroughfare-bridge-wildwood-crest-closed-due-motor-failure/15200156/ Looks like the Middle Thorofare Bridge on Ocean Drive (Cape May CR 621) between Wildwood Crest and Cape May gonna be closed for at least several weeks.

[storm2k]

I was reading the state DOT website says both construction projects on US 22 in Union should be finished Summer 2024.

Has anyone driven by any of the two at either Morris Avenue or Chestnut Street or even both to see if the area looks near completed?

Chestnut St. overpass is done. The GSP interchange area is still a work in progress.

I need to get down there again. There's a fair amount of new signage. Last few times I've been in the area it's been at night where it's not great to get pictures.

[FLAVORTOWN]

Was NJ-18 supposed to be a freeway further up north past exit 30? Noticed that theres a bunch of intersections with left turns/no jughandles, thought that was a no-no in NJ 

[roadman65]

Was NJ-18 supposed to be a freeway further up north past exit 30? Noticed that theres a bunch of intersections with left turns/no jughandles, thought that was a no-no in NJ 

That believe it or not, was the original NJ 18 that ran from US 9 in Old Bridge to NJ 28 in Middlesex.  There was little development along the US 9 to CR 516/527 in Old Bridge that warranted no signals when the road got built as a divided highway there.

[bzakharin]

Was NJ-18 supposed to be a freeway further up north past exit 30? Noticed that theres a bunch of intersections with left turns/no jughandles, thought that was a no-no in NJ 

Jughandles are unpredictable in New Jersey. You may have consecutive intersections on the same road with and without jughandles. Here's one on NJ 73 where northbound traffic has a regular left turn signal, while southbound traffic must use a jughandle.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8743438,-74.9219656,17.04z?entry=ttu

[Mr. Matté]

CR 621 bridge between Cape May and Wildwood reopened - they found a new motor
https://6abc.com/post/middle-thorofare-bridge-lower-township-new-jersey-reopens-earlier-anticipated-after-major-mechanical-failure/15212458/

[roadman65]

CR 621 bridge between Cape May and Wildwood reopened - they found a new motor
https://6abc.com/post/middle-thorofare-bridge-lower-township-new-jersey-reopens-earlier-anticipated-after-major-mechanical-failure/15212458/

Usually the older divided roadways have a mixture of jughandles or left turns.

US 130 in Willingboro almost has all jughandles due to that part being widened later on the game.

US 202 between Somerville and Flemington is an unusual mix being that it was built with both characteristics when it was widened from two to four lanes in the early sixties.  It's the only route to feature turnouts at u turns to prevent sharp turns.

[jeffandnicole]

US 202 between Somerville and Flemington is an unusual mix being that it was built with both characteristics when it was widened from two to four lanes in the early sixties.  It's the only route to feature turnouts at u turns to prevent sharp turns.

US 30 has a version of u-turn turnouts as well for EB traffic at some intersections in the more rural areas, built into the WB jughandles.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/WyEYpXHhHbyGeuCWA

[storm2k]

New signage on 22 westbound in Union at the Rt. 82/Morris Ave/Parkway exits as part of the bridge reconstruction projects.


Rt. 82/Morris Ave WB left exit


Parkway SB left exit. NJDOT is finally using actual control cities for the Parkway!


Rt. 82/Morris Ave EB exit. Unlike the LGS just beyond, it doesn't mention 22EB (for traffic coming off the Parkway at 140B).

You can also see a overhead structure waiting for install sitting on the side of the road. There are also new signs heading eastbound that I will have to grab another day.

[roadman65]

US 22 Eastbound should be listed on the ramp to Ingersoll Terrace in addition to Route 82 as it's the way to US 22 EB from the Parkway SB due to lack of direct connection.

IMO Exit 141 should be signed for US 22 EB via Vauxhall Road as its most direct.

What is going to be interesting is NB GSP signs 140 for both directions of US 22 which now lost its u turn ramp to make that maneuver to WB US 22.  Plus people on EB US 22 are not going to find signage either for The Parkway SB.

[SignBridge]

LOL I wonder if in that second photo, the posting of Woodbridge as the Parkway destination might have been a mistake, since NJDOT doesn't usually sign destinations for GS Parkway entrances.

[roadman65]

LOL I wonder if in that second photo, the posting of Woodbridge as the Parkway destination might have been a mistake, since NJDOT doesn't usually sign destinations for GS Parkway entrances.

In Brick the ramps on Route 70 to the Parkway have Woodbridge and Toms River.  So I think it's a new fad that's emerged.

[storm2k]

LOL I wonder if in that second photo, the posting of Woodbridge as the Parkway destination might have been a mistake, since NJDOT doesn't usually sign destinations for GS Parkway entrances.

This seems to be a change in NJDOT policy, and fairly recently at that. Seems that they've finally accepted that the Parkway shield is enough to identify the roadway and that control cities that are not just the name of the roadway are more helpful to drivers.

[SignBridge]

LOL I wonder if in that second photo, the posting of Woodbridge as the Parkway destination might have been a mistake, since NJDOT doesn't usually sign destinations for GS Parkway entrances.

This seems to be a change in NJDOT policy, and fairly recently at that. Seems that they've finally accepted that the Parkway shield is enough to identify the roadway and that control cities that are not just the name of the roadway are more helpful to drivers.

Actually I've always felt that the Turnpike and Parkway shields by themselves are not sufficient to identify the roads, partly because they are a similar color as the green signs, so do not stand out well the way most route shields do. What might help would be to put them in a black or white square the way NJDOT used to do with most route shields. Problem is I believe the MUTCD now prohibits that practice. 

[FLAVORTOWN]

Disagree, the Parkway shield literally says Parkway in there. Theres no need to write it out as "Garden State Parkway", waste of money IMO.

I do think they should continue to write out NJ Turnpike however, as the turnpike text is very tiny and not really visible. But the thing I dont understand is why are they writing out it as "New Jersey Turnpike" - everyone knows about state abbreviations, seems like a waste to write it all out.

[jeffandnicole]

LOL I wonder if in that second photo, the posting of Woodbridge as the Parkway destination might have been a mistake, since NJDOT doesn't usually sign destinations for GS Parkway entrances.

This seems to be a change in NJDOT policy, and fairly recently at that. Seems that they've finally accepted that the Parkway shield is enough to identify the roadway and that control cities that are not just the name of the roadway are more helpful to drivers.

Actually I've always felt that the Turnpike and Parkway shields by themselves are not sufficient to identify the roads, partly because they are a similar color as the green signs, so do not stand out well the way most route shields do. What might help would be to put them in a black or white square the way NJDOT used to do with most route shields. Problem is I believe the MUTCD now prohibits that practice. 

When was the last time you read "Interstate" in the Interstate shield?

[SignBridge]

Disagree, the Parkway shield literally says Parkway in there. Theres no need to write it out as "Garden State Parkway", waste of money IMO.

I do think they should continue to write out NJ Turnpike however, as the turnpike text is very tiny and not really visible. But the thing I dont understand is why are they writing out it as "New Jersey Turnpike" - everyone knows about state abbreviations, seems like a waste to write it all out.

The Parkway should be written as GS Parkway and the Turnpike as NJ Turnpike. A common sense solution that won't take up excessive space or incur excessive cost......... And I still say the problem is those Parkway shields don't contrast well with the green background of the signs and don't stand out the way a red, white and blue Interstate shield does or even a white state or US highway shield does.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6E5FpteSbrD7VruU9
Wrong mast arm here.

At least, though, better than this.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CV8jmjqRGZYVyJSu8

The second one matches a vertical installation with horizontal ones. At least the first keeps it consistent. Just that a trombone mast would be better and is generally is used in New Jersey for horizontal signal head mounts.

[jeffandnicole]

At least, though, better than this.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CV8jmjqRGZYVyJSu8

The second one matches a vertical installation with horizontal ones. At least the first keeps it consistent. Just that a trombone mast would be better and is generally is used in New Jersey for horizontal signal head mounts.

Same thing here. And on the same post to boot.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BfK2i7Ry9FjhNVxw7?g_st=ac

[NJRoadfan]

You can also see a overhead structure waiting for install sitting on the side of the road. There are also new signs heading eastbound that I will have to grab another day.

...and its now up. Also, these signs all have lights on them. They were pretty well lit up last night.

[jeffandnicole]

You can also see a overhead structure waiting for install sitting on the side of the road. There are also new signs heading eastbound that I will have to grab another day.

...and its now up. Also, these signs all have lights on them. They were pretty well lit up last night.

After several years of not putting lights on at least some overhead signs, it appears they're installed all overhead signs with lighting. And they've all been converted to LED lighting.