New Jersey

[NJRoadfan]

Is NJDOT seriously resorting to chip sealing its roadways as pavement "preservation"? They have been overlaying US-22 in Union and the dust and gravel have been making quite a mess. We'll see how long it lasts.

[Mr. Matté]

Yes they have. Route 68 was done many years ago like that, but at least their process on that road was done better than the chipping done ("wats dat?") in some of the northwestern counties and townships.

[roadman65]

I saw a 1955 aerial photo ( a user posted an article with photograph) of the Lincoln Tunnel Helix in Weehawkin from the south. It showed the south tube under construction ( as that tube officially opened in 1957) and the plaza collecting fares both ways with the right side Willow Avenue WB ramp next to the plaza.


What I found interesting was that the center ramp to and from Hoboken wasn't even there. The only access to the Tunnel from Weehawkin and Hoboken was from the right side merge to  Hoboken from the tunnel was exclusively from the Willow Avenue underpass-ramp on the right.

Of course that makes sense now considering that the center tube has no access to the Willow Avenue exit on the right, so an additional ramp had to be built so that move could take place.

[FLAVORTOWN]

Well this is a surprise



Intersection of CR-630 and CR-657 in Middlesex County is apparently a state asset. What made this intersection so special the state is responsible for it?

[storm2k]

Well this is a surprise



Intersection of CR-630 and CR-657 in Middlesex County is apparently a state asset. What made this intersection so special the state is responsible for it?

Not 100% sure but the Menlo Park NJ Veterans Memorial Home is on Oakwood and that's a state run facility so it might be one of those things where that road either is or was under state jurisdiction instead of local.

[Mr. Matté]

Intersection of CR-630 and CR-657 in Middlesex County is apparently a state asset. What made this intersection so special the state is responsible for it?

Not 100% sure but the Menlo Park NJ Veterans Memorial Home is on Oakwood and that's a state run facility so it might be one of those things where that road either is or was under state jurisdiction instead of local.

Per this 1954 map, yes Parsonage and Oakwood were previously under state control as evidenced by the blue line from US 1. However going as early as I can in GSV, the signal there looks like a county installation since Parsonage was explicitly signed as CR 630, a MidCo-only designation until the most recent state SLD update.

Other isolated state assets (like some of the traffic lights off the GSP on the former NJDOT section, orphaned railroad bridges, or that other blue line by Jamesburg to juvie hall) don't seem to register on the state pothole website though.

[Alps]

By the way, the NJ 15 bridge apparently reopened Sunday afternoon. Temporary bridge for now.

[1995hoo]

I don't want to start an independent thread for this, and a search of the forum didn't find an answer to the question. What was the purpose of this U-turn ramp in the median of I-278 in Elizabeth? It's now blocked off with concrete barriers. Was there incomplete access to Brunswick Avenue at some point in the past that would have required use of that turnaround? (I understand the road was intended to go further west and possibly to have been widened, but this ramp appears unrelated to that sort of thing.)

[roadman65]

I don't want to start an independent thread for this, and a search of the forum didn't find an answer to the question. What was the purpose of this U-turn ramp in the median of I-278 in Elizabeth? It's now blocked off with concrete barriers. Was there incomplete access to Brunswick Avenue at some point in the past that would have required use of that turnaround? (I understand the road was intended to go further west and possibly to have been widened, but this ramp appears unrelated to that sort of thing.)

It was part of the Goethals Bridge replacement project that closed the SB NJ 439 ramp to the Bridge. Traffic was detoured WB and then a u turn EB.

[The Ghostbuster]

According to Google Maps Street View, the u-turn ramp was constructed sometime between October 2012 and August 2015. It closed sometime between October 2018 and October 2019. That's all I know about it.

[roadman65]

Let Jeff or Alps answer this. They live in NJ and know more unless de facto moderator Rothman knows about this.

[1995hoo]

The older Street View images pretty much confirm that it was part of the bridge project. It wasn't there in 2009 and it shows up shortly before the ramp from the local streets to the bridge closed, and it was then signed with orange detour signage. That's pretty compelling evidence of what its purpose was. Thanks for the info. It looked odd on the map, and I figured it wasn't analogous to the Turnpike's turnarounds for law enforcement and the like because it's not a Turnpike Authority road.

[jeffandnicole]

Let Jeff or Alps answer this. They live in NJ and know more unless de facto moderator Rothman knows about this.

My guess is what the others guessed. Construction signage also supports this:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFczV6QBFiBvc69v9?g_st=ac

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/S5agzKqGJGjErPD77
Also here at NJ 439's eastern terminus is an orange detour sign directing motorists to use I-278 WB to the Goethals Bridge.

[Mr. Matté]

Let Jeff or Alps answer this. They live in NJ and know more

You broke your own "rule:"

It was part of the Goethals Bridge replacement project that closed the SB NJ 439 ramp to the Bridge. Traffic was detoured WB and then a u turn EB.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3Fh9ZDNvcKnPEmVcA
What's up with the NJ 72 and 37 shields at NJ 70's commencement?

[akotchi]

New Jersey seems to be providing longer-distance route connections on their signing.  You found another example. 

On either end of I-195, for instance, pull-through signs are showing "to NJ 138" eastbound and "to NJ 29" westbound -- the distance is as much as 35 miles.

This is a recent trend that I do not know the rationale for.  I am curious, though . . .

(personal opinion)

[storm2k]

New Jersey seems to be providing longer-distance route connections on their signing.  You found another example. 

On either end of I-195, for instance, pull-through signs are showing "to NJ 138" eastbound and "to NJ 29" westbound -- the distance is as much as 35 miles.

This is a recent trend that I do not know the rationale for.  I am curious, though . . .

(personal opinion)

These signs are a lot older than some of the later ones, like the ones you mention on 195. These were erected in the late aughts/early 2010s IIRC to replace older signage. In this case, 72 takes you to LBI. 37 takes you to Seaside Park and Seaside Heights. Both connect to 70 as it makes its way across the state from Camden to the Squan. Basically, it's a way to help Shoobies find their way to the Shore.

[roadman65]

Shore Points should be used for Route 70 here.

Yes I see they want to distinguish the Cherry Hill Shopping Malls from the actual business district, but still the Shore Points should be also used.

Plus a TO NJ 73 shield needs to be inserted as NJ 38 does not connect directly to the Turnpike under the latest logic of using TO other routes like Routes 72 and 37.

[jeffandnicole]

Shore Points should be used for Route 70 here.

Yes I see they want to distinguish the Cherry Hill Shopping Malls from the actual business district, but still the Shore Points should be also used.

Plus a TO NJ 73 shield needs to be inserted as NJ 38 does not connect directly to the Turnpike under the latest logic of using TO other routes like Routes 72 and 37.

Shore Points was often too generic so that usage has gone away. 

Both 38 and 70 take motorists to Rt. 73, so by using 73 it may confuse motorists as to the best route to get to 73 based on where they are traveling to.

[roadman65]

Shore Points should be used for Route 70 here.

Yes I see they want to distinguish the Cherry Hill Shopping Malls from the actual business district, but still the Shore Points should be also used.

Plus a TO NJ 73 shield needs to be inserted as NJ 38 does not connect directly to the Turnpike under the latest logic of using TO other routes like Routes 72 and 37.

Shore Points was often too generic so that usage has gone away. 

Both 38 and 70 take motorists to Rt. 73, so by using 73 it may confuse motorists as to the best route to get to 73 based on where they are traveling to.

Look at Exit 48 on I-78 for TO I-287.

[ixnay]

Shore Points should be used for Route 70 here.

Yes I see they want to distinguish the Cherry Hill Shopping Malls from the actual business district, but still the Shore Points should be also used.

Plus a TO NJ 73 shield needs to be inserted as NJ 38 does not connect directly to the Turnpike under the latest logic of using TO other routes like Routes 72 and 37.

Shore Points was often too generic so that usage has gone away. 

"Ocean County Resorts" would work, as LBI, the Seasides, and the Point Pleasants are in that county, although NJDOT has never been keen on signing counties.  Neither has the Turnpike Authority (except along the Parkway [which seems to be left over from when the GSP had its own agency) or the SJTA.

[jeffandnicole]

Shore Points should be used for Route 70 here.

Yes I see they want to distinguish the Cherry Hill Shopping Malls from the actual business district, but still the Shore Points should be also used.

Plus a TO NJ 73 shield needs to be inserted as NJ 38 does not connect directly to the Turnpike under the latest logic of using TO other routes like Routes 72 and 37.

Shore Points was often too generic so that usage has gone away. 

"Ocean County Resorts" would work, as LBI, the Seasides, and the Point Pleasants are in that county, although NJDOT has never been keen on signing counties.  Neither has the Turnpike Authority (except along the Parkway [which seems to be left over from when the GSP had its own agency) or the SJTA.

Since counties as a whole don't really mean much in NJ, most motorists would have no idea if their destination is within a certain county.

[roadman65]

Exit 2 did once use Cape May County Resorts as a supplemental control destination.

On CR 537 at CR 571 on the Jackson/ Millstone line used to use Ocean County Resorts for CR 571 SB.

So it's not a new concept.

[jeffandnicole]

Exit 2 did once use Cape May County Resorts as a supplemental control destination.

On CR 537 at CR 571 on the Jackson/ Millstone line used to use Ocean County Resorts for CR 571 SB.

So it's not a new concept.

Right. But as you indicated, they *used* to be used. The destination concept probably meant nothing to most motorists who are looking for specific routes or cities and have no idea what county the cities are in.