New Jersey Turnpike

[storm2k]

I drove up from the PA Turnpike through the new outer roadway the other night, and I noticed something nifty. The barrel signs about which roadway to take are internally illuminated. It looks quite nice with the LED VMS's also built into those signs. I wonder if we'll see these signs north of 8A when they start doing the MUTCD conversion.

[Don'tKnowYet]

Too bad it looks like crap when the LED lip casts an ever-so-annoying, slight shadow on the face.

[roadman65]

OKroads photos are awesome!  Nice shots of the new signage.  I am disappointed, though, that Princeton is not added for Exit 8 being that it now connects directly to NJ 133.  However, I like that NJ 32 is finally acknowledged by NJTA as for years it was just Jamesburg and Cranbury with no routes listed. Even to place a US 130 shield is nice as well.

[Zeffy]

OKroads photos are awesome!  Nice shots of the new signage.  I am disappointed, though, that Princeton is not added for Exit 8 being that it now connects directly to NJ 133.  However, I like that NJ 32 is finally acknowledged by NJTA as for years it was just Jamesburg and Cranbury with no routes listed. Even to place a US 130 shield is nice as well.

Considering NJ 32's sole purpose is connecting US 130 with the Turnpike, it kinda makes sense to not sign it, being that it's only like 2 or 3 miles long. Personally, I would sign maybe Cranbury and East Windsor for Exit 8 instead of what they have now since East Windsor is a bit more major than Jamesburg IMO. I believe Jamesburg is just a community within Monroe Township anyway, sort of how like Somerset is a community within Franklin Township. I'm amazed they don't have a CR 535 shield on the exit sign too because one of the ramps provides access to it.

[KEVIN_224]

I see this is how the southern car/truck lane split looks like now, south of Exit 6 in Mansfield. I was coming back from a day trip to Philadelphia:



And then the advance Exit sign soon after the first picture:

[Roadrunner75]

And then the advance Exit sign soon after the first picture:

Didn't they use to double sign exit 6 for US 130 / Florence as well?  Is there any other new advance signage indicating 130?  The new sign kind of implies the really old days, when exit 6 was really Pennsylvania Turnpike only with no exit before the bridge.  (I realize they are saving the blank left half of the sign for I-95 South when that connection is complete...)

[jeffandnicole]

And then the advance Exit sign soon after the first picture:

Didn't they use to double sign exit 6 for US 130 / Florence as well?  Is there any other new advance signage indicating 130?  The new sign kind of implies the really old days, when exit 6 was really Pennsylvania Turnpike only with no exit before the bridge.  (I realize they are saving the blank left half of the sign for I-95 South when that connection is complete...)

There's a supplemental sign for Florence approaching Interchange 6.  The actual Interchange 6 Sign will also state Philadelphia.

[roadman65]

OKroads photos are awesome!  Nice shots of the new signage.  I am disappointed, though, that Princeton is not added for Exit 8 being that it now connects directly to NJ 133.  However, I like that NJ 32 is finally acknowledged by NJTA as for years it was just Jamesburg and Cranbury with no routes listed. Even to place a US 130 shield is nice as well.

Considering NJ 32's sole purpose is connecting US 130 with the Turnpike, it kinda makes sense to not sign it, being that it's only like 2 or 3 miles long. Personally, I would sign maybe Cranbury and East Windsor for Exit 8 instead of what they have now since East Windsor is a bit more major than Jamesburg IMO. I believe Jamesburg is just a community within Monroe Township anyway, sort of how like Somerset is a community within Franklin Township. I'm amazed they don't have a CR 535 shield on the exit sign too because one of the ramps provides access to it.

NJ Turnpike does not like to sign county routes for some reason.  Look at Exit 5 for CR 541? 

Right Exit 8 should be resigned and US 130 could be without.  However I would use South Brunswick instead of Cranbury.  Cranbury is better served now with Exit 8 to NJ 133 WB to US 130 NB.  Even in pre NJ 133 days most would use NJ 33 WB to CR 539 NB into Cranbury. 

Just like Laurelton being changed to Brick on road signs, Jamesburg should be Monroe as well.  The same with Singac, being part of Little Falls, was changed on NJ 23 signs to "Little Falls" was also redone.  It seems the townships are more important than the communities that lie within it.  Only Toms River lucked out when residents changed the official Township of Dover name to Township of Toms River, so it now is not a part of a larger community as now that change made Toms River the actual community merge with the township so to speak.

[PHLBOS]

And then the advance Exit sign soon after the first picture:

When did those BGS' get erected?  Unllike the majority of the ones posted in the southbound direction; the northbound ones feature properly-shaped 3di-shields; most of the I-276 along on the southbound BGS' feature a slightly asymmetrical shield.  The new Exit 7A BGS' feature similar-shaped shields (for I-195) and some I-287 pull-through BGS also have such.

Note to PennDOT & PTC: the above is how an I-276 shield should look like in terms of shape & font (Series C).   

[roadman65]

Maybe you should email both PennDOT and PTC a copy of the above photo saying what you said here LOL!

[J Route Z]

It was strange when the outer lane was speed limit 55 and the inner lane was 65 near exit 12.

[signalman]

It was strange when the outer lane was speed limit 55 and the inner lane was 65 near exit 12.

It was probably due to congestion on the outer roadway or perhaps an accident further ahead.  The inner roadway was not affected by it, so there was no reduced speed.

[lepidopteran]

Is there a "field guide to freeway overpass piers" out there somewhere?  If there is, or someone is putting one together, here is the entry for the NJ Turnpike.

Most bridges over the NJTP have the following signature style:

• Column-style piers, in a square cross-section with beveled corners.
  
• Pier cap is flush with the sides, with an arch-like tapering on the underside between the columns.

A handful of overpasses, most notably in the Exit 7A area, have a cap that extends beyond the piers with a smooth curve underneath.  Both the original and the new ones rebuilt for the widening project share a similar design, interestingly enough.

A few locations, such as the NJ-133 and AC Expwy crossings, have solid "wall" piers, something usually reserved for RR bridges (these are sometimes used when pier space is narrow, or for certain "heavy duty"  urban highways.)

Another pier style with a few random appearances, including the Exit 2 and 10 regions, are a single, solid structure, but in a unique shape.  I can best describe it as a Y-shape with a diagonally widening bottom.  (Ironically, some highways have Y-shaped piers with the bottom part narrowing diagonally, probably for aesthetic effect.  Others just place the Y-like cap atop one or more traditional cylindrical piers, or a "wall" pier.)

[jeffandnicole]

A few locations, such as the NJ-133 and AC Expwy crossings, have solid "wall" piers, something usually reserved for RR bridges (these are sometimes used when pier space is narrow, or for certain “heavy duty” urban highways.)

Do you mean NJ 133 & NJ 42?  The NJ Turnpike doesn't cross over the AC Expressway.

[roadman65]

The Garden State Parkway has solid wall type of piers as well with no pier between the car and truck lanes.  Also the CR 514 bridge spanning across that one is a solid wrought iron bridge with even piers on to match. You can see it https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fords,+Woodbridge+Township,+NJ/@40.5409,-74.309177,3a,75y,115.05h,90.93t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s6PTjpbuheY7y1sR2HFthkQ!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b5e1cb44356f:0x7185a0b7b403920.

[lepidopteran]

A few locations, such as the NJ-133 and AC Expwy crossings, have solid "wall" piers, something usually reserved for RR bridges (these are sometimes used when pier space is narrow, or for certain "heavy duty"  urban highways.)

Do you mean NJ 133 & NJ 42?  The NJ Turnpike doesn't cross over the AC Expressway.

I stand corrected.  At that point it's called the "North-South Freeway".  I didn't realize that AC Expwy didn't branch off until further southeast of there.

[02 Park Ave]

It's an easy mistake to make as the N/S Freeway is operated by the ACE.

[vdeane]

Especially since NJ 42 exits itself.  I'd just truncate NJ 42 and extend the AC Expressway up.

[jeffandnicole]

It's an easy mistake to make as the N/S Freeway is operated by the ACE.

It's a bit of a strange marriage. NJDOT is in charge of Rt. 42 (N/S Freeway).  They maintain it.  They do all the roadwork and construction.  They plow it.  The only thing the AC Expressway does is various landscaping items; maybe some mowing; planting wildflowers, etc. 

On the other hand, a future project is adding an emergency evacuation median crossover on the AC Expressway, between Rt. 42 & Cross Keys Rd (Exit 41).  That project will be fully paid for and administrated by NJDOT.

[Alps]

Especially since NJ 42 exits itself.  I'd just truncate NJ 42 and extend the AC Expressway up.

My alternative history keeps 42 on 168 and gives the new route its own number, since the ACE was well into the planning stages by the time the N-S freeway made it down that far. Step 1 would be to return 42 to the 168 route.

[Roadrunner75]

Especially since NJ 42 exits itself.  I'd just truncate NJ 42 and extend the AC Expressway up.

My alternative history keeps 42 on 168 and gives the new route its own number, since the ACE was well into the planning stages by the time the N-S freeway made it down that far. Step 1 would be to return 42 to the 168 route.

And Step 2 is then extending I-76 straight down to Atlantic City and we're good to go. (just in time for the last casino to close)

[cpzilliacus]

Especially since NJ 42 exits itself.  I'd just truncate NJ 42 and extend the AC Expressway up.

My alternative history keeps 42 on 168 and gives the new route its own number, since the ACE was well into the planning stages by the time the N-S freeway made it down that far. Step 1 would be to return 42 to the 168 route.

And Step 2 is then extending I-76 straight down to Atlantic City and we're good to go. (just in time for the last casino to close)

Might even "rescue" a casino or two - especially if the NJTA could be persuaded to build an Exit 2A on the Turnpike to provide a direct connection.

[Zeffy]

Might even "rescue" a casino or two - especially if the NJTA could be persuaded to build an Exit 2A on the Turnpike to provide a direct connection.

The NJTA will never get authorization to destroy the protected marshlands (mainly Big Timber Creek) to build an interchange with NJ 42 (or "future" I-76).

[jeffandnicole]

Of the many reasons why people stopped going to Atlantic City, the less-than 3 mile detour one must take to go from the Turnpike to Rt. 42 (please, please, please, stop suggesting it's going to be I-76) has never come up.  Since this direction would impact those from Delaware, Maryland and points south, ever since both those states got casinos/racinos, it started drying up the market from down there.

I'd definitely like the connection, but it ain't on anyone's horizon anytime soon.

[vdeane]

With the missing movements to the I-76/I-295 interchange to be done soon, all that's really needed would be a more convenient connection from the Turnpike to I-295 further north, probably in the vicinity of the PA Turnpike Extension.  At least then it would be all freeway.