New Jersey

[storm2k]

Glancing around the NJDOT project website, I noticed the bids for Contract 4 of the NJ 72 bridge replacement came in.  Interestingly, all 6 bids came in well below projection, with the lowest bid an astounding 40% below the estimated pricetag of $106 million.

It typically takes a month or so to see the winning bid accepted.  It'll be wait and see to make sure that there were no errors in the bidding documents that would've accounted for such a wide margin of difference.

40% under projection? That seems way way way off. It sounds like any of these bids is going to end up ballooning as the project wears on with change orders.

[NJRoadfan]

They have a decent estimate of how much a bridge costs at the site as a parallel span is being built right now.

[roadman65]

Hey, I do not know if anyone knows the answer to this as this was back in the mid 80's to mid 90's when some of you were too young or not born yet, but I will ask it despite Alps demanding that I "show the proof" being its so old and other snark.

Back in the mid 1980's the Oak Island viaduct on NB US 1 & 9 was rehabilitated as the old deck was full of pot holes and other stuff.  Then after the rehab was done there was a long hiatus to where work was halted on all further work to rehabilitate the rest of US 1 & 9 and its bridges north of Delancey Street and up to the Skyway.  For years the NB express lanes were closed and local lanes were only in use to after I left the state in 90.  In fact my first visit to home in 1991 after I left was when I finally saw the finished work including the removal of the truss over the defunct CNJ Newark Branch and a new SB span in place then.

Of course that was not the end as the replacement of the SB viaduct over Wilson Avenue, Delancey Street, South Street, and Oak Island Rail yards took years after the original 1932 bridge was torn down.  For a period of three years (maybe two), the SB US 1 & 9 used the NB Express lanes and all NB traffic used the local lanes.  The now closed NB Express Delancey Street exit was a temporary SB entrance ramp during the missing bridge era as well.

Does anyone know why it took so long and all the halts to get US 1 & 9 completed through Ironbound, Newark?  Also why did it take so long for NJDOT to replace the original SB viaduct from Wilson Avenue to I-78 after it was demolished to the time the current one opened to traffic?

[ixnay]

I'm looking at Jets postgame traffic on Google Maps right now, and the flyover from NJ 3 east to NJ 495 east is shown as closed.  Why?

ixnay

[storm2k]

I'm looking at Jets postgame traffic on Google Maps right now, and the flyover from NJ 3 east to NJ 495 east is shown as closed.  Why?

ixnay

Emergency Repairs on NJ-495. That viaduct is not in good condition. I believe they're working on the engineering to do something to replace it. That will be an unpleasant situation to replace.

[storm2k]

Drove through Clifton today to get lunch at the Hot Grill. Notice that Passaic County has put up a bunch of new county route signs up in the area. Lexington Ave now has a bunch of CR-625 signs that were not there earlier in the year.

[Alex]

All posts for the New Jersey Gas Tax increase, and related discussion of self-serve versus full-serve gas, etc., have been split into a new topic:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19137.0

[jeffandnicole]

Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly have been found guilty on all counts in the Bridgegate scandal:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/bridgegate_verdict_bill_baroni_and_bridget_kelly_g.html#incart_big-photo

[odditude]

I just realized that the following sign is a bit of an anachronism - button copy and "Next Exit", but larger first character on the cardinal direction - https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3423181,-74.6248164,3a,75y,46.69h,95.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sibTSvKM2vCRwlqhkp2VG4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

edit: fixed "next exit", thanks bzakharin

[bzakharin]

I just realized that the following sign is a bit of an anachronism - button copy and "Next Right", but larger first character on the cardinal direction - https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3423181,-74.6248164,3a,75y,46.69h,95.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sibTSvKM2vCRwlqhkp2VG4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It says "Next exit" not "Next right". But really, on a road without exit numbers, what would be the alternative to some form of "next right/exit"? Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing "Next exit" before (as opposed to "next right").  I've seen a "This exit" though: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6396064,-74.862169,3a,75y,331.38h,90.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdh5brmPzVSIQAuZTho6tlA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

[odditude]

I just realized that the following sign is a bit of an anachronism - button copy and "Next Right", but larger first character on the cardinal direction - https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3423181,-74.6248164,3a,75y,46.69h,95.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sibTSvKM2vCRwlqhkp2VG4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It says "Next exit" not "Next right". But really, on a road without exit numbers, what would be the alternative to some form of "next right/exit"? Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing "Next exit" before (as opposed to "next right").  I've seen a "This exit" though: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6396064,-74.862169,3a,75y,331.38h,90.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdh5brmPzVSIQAuZTho6tlA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

nowadays, isn't a distance message required?

[Alps]

Just because the MUTCD adopts something doesn't mean it begins then. Different states experiment, and several sometimes agree on an idea before it's implemented. If US 1 was among the last run of button copy signs before (or just after) the switch to full reflective, it's possible there was overlap with NJ's own policy of first initial larger.

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

[roadman]

I just realized that the following sign is a bit of an anachronism - button copy and "Next Right", but larger first character on the cardinal direction - https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3423181,-74.6248164,3a,75y,46.69h,95.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sibTSvKM2vCRwlqhkp2VG4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It says "Next exit" not "Next right". But really, on a road without exit numbers, what would be the alternative to some form of "next right/exit"? Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing "Next exit" before (as opposed to "next right").  I've seen a "This exit" though: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6396064,-74.862169,3a,75y,331.38h,90.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdh5brmPzVSIQAuZTho6tlA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

Both the MUTCD and the old AASHO "Interstate Signing Manual" have always specified "Next Right" for service and supplemental signs at non-numbered exits.  However, some states and agencies (MassDPW among them) have used "Next Exit" on such signs instead in the past.

[bzakharin]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

That reminds me of a similar sign at Exit 37 on the GS Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.405223,-74.5578998,3a,37.5y,229.47h,85.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV4JGsxETRbDsUs9inwCmhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Why Atlantic City is in the opposite direction from 40/322 I have no idea. And why is the FAA Tech Center listed instead of the ACY airport which it is part of?

[jeffandnicole]

Some sign work has happened on I-76 W approaching the 76/676 split. They're replacing the classic button copy diagramic signs that were there. The advanced sign assembly also adds a separate points of interest sign for I-676, listing the Aquarium, the Battleship New Jersey and the "Entertainment Center" (something that venue hasn't been called in almost 20 years now).

How very 1992 of NJDOT. 
I would expect PennDOT to make that kind of a mistake moreso than NJDOT.

I've been meaning to get back to this.  They have *not* replaced the diagramic signs.  They are still there, button copy and all.  They simply added a supplemental BGS for those I-676 points of interest on the first overhead gantry.

[storm2k]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

That reminds me of a similar sign at Exit 37 on the GS Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.405223,-74.5578998,3a,37.5y,229.47h,85.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV4JGsxETRbDsUs9inwCmhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Why Atlantic City is in the opposite direction from 40/322 I have no idea. And why is the FAA Tech Center listed instead of the ACY airport which it is part of?

Because NJDOT signs the connection to 40/322 in that direction and not the other.

[bzakharin]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

That reminds me of a similar sign at Exit 37 on the GS Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.405223,-74.5578998,3a,37.5y,229.47h,85.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV4JGsxETRbDsUs9inwCmhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Why Atlantic City is in the opposite direction from 40/322 I have no idea. And why is the FAA Tech Center listed instead of the ACY airport which it is part of?

Because NJDOT signs the connection to 40/322 in that direction and not the other.

Well, yeah, and it's probably the best way to get on it there even Eastbound, but how do you propose to get to Atlantic City following the other arrow? You have to end up either on 40/322 or the AC Expressway at some point.

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

That reminds me of a similar sign at Exit 37 on the GS Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.405223,-74.5578998,3a,37.5y,229.47h,85.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV4JGsxETRbDsUs9inwCmhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Why Atlantic City is in the opposite direction from 40/322 I have no idea. And why is the FAA Tech Center listed instead of the ACY airport which it is part of?

EB US 40 & 322 should be east on Washington to Fire Road.

The same goes for I-95 leaving Newark Airport.  It directs both directions via I-78, yet the SB Turnpike is directed via US 1 & 9 SB to NJ 81.  Both the NJT and I-95 is the same road, but directed differently as well.
The 37 ramp is probably because no one really cares how they get to Atlantic City, long as they get there.  Its an oversight like the Newark Airport as many do not consider the NJ Turnpike as I-95.  No one stopped to figure it out and they most likely did here on the 37 ramp as well.

Good catch though!

[jeffandnicole]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4321696,-74.5795363,3a,75y,180h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBYfoodDDBuBOnNiP_OJ2ew!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I find this sign assembly to be very interesting. Taken at the ACY Airport Circle in Egg Harbor,  it directs motorists to US 40 & 322 via Delilah Road W Bound instead of straight through on CR 583 S Bound.

I suppose WB for the two US routes Delilah Road is a good way to go, but E Bound its far from direct and takes you miles of course.

That reminds me of a similar sign at Exit 37 on the GS Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.405223,-74.5578998,3a,37.5y,229.47h,85.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV4JGsxETRbDsUs9inwCmhQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
Why Atlantic City is in the opposite direction from 40/322 I have no idea. And why is the FAA Tech Center listed instead of the ACY airport which it is part of?

EB US 40 & 322 should be east on Washington to Fire Road.

The same goes for I-95 leaving Newark Airport.  It directs both directions via I-78, yet the SB Turnpike is directed via US 1 & 9 SB to NJ 81.  Both the NJT and I-95 is the same road, but directed differently as well.
The 37 ramp is probably because no one really cares how they get to Atlantic City, long as they get there.  Its an oversight like the Newark Airport as many do not consider the NJ Turnpike as I-95.  No one stopped to figure it out and they most likely did here on the 37 ramp as well.

Good catch though!

I almost wonder if this is a way to disperse traffic for the otherwise unknowing.

[bzakharin]

I almost wonder if this is a way to disperse traffic for the otherwise unknowing.

It would work better if it weren't the case that you must already be in the left turn lane to see this sign (unless you have extremely good eyesight).

[roadman65]

The Parkway has a lot to be desired for on ramp signs.  As long as I was living there, all sign projects on the Parkway proper never included the ramps.  Most ramps were always copied over and if new signs were installed, like Exit 136 for example, it was done by the locals who maintained the connecting roadway.

[jeffandnicole]

I almost wonder if this is a way to disperse traffic for the otherwise unknowing.

It would work better if it weren't the case that you must already be in the left turn lane to see this sign (unless you have extremely good eyesight).

Got a little confusing with the quotes there...I was referring to roadman's comment regarding the NJTPK/95 signage near EWR.

[roadman65]

I almost wonder if this is a way to disperse traffic for the otherwise unknowing.

It would work better if it weren't the case that you must already be in the left turn lane to see this sign (unless you have extremely good eyesight).

Got a little confusing with the quotes there...I was referring to roadman's comment regarding the NJTPK/95 signage near EWR.

Probably so.  Most locals refer to the Turnpike as such and even though only a few know its interstate number it still has enough to know the interstate route to distribute traffic in a more effective manner. 

However it is what it is, to me I have no problem with EWR's signing as both ways are to the point.  Sure one is slightly longer, but not by much.  Also, the tolls are (or were) the same to go points south of Newark whether you enter at 14 or 13A anyway.  That was to deter shunpikers when 13A opened in 1983 to charge 14 rates at 13A or 13 rates going SB at 13A as well.

[storm2k]

So I rode through the completed work on 18 at Interchange 9 for the first time since they were completely finished today. Restriping in an option lane at the gore point for the Rt 1 NB ramp definitely helps traffic flow because you don't have to weave so badly coming off the Turnpike ramp. I also see they erected an APL on approach to this ramp, but did not put a second one at the gore point, for better or worse. Plus they did the arrows backward (arrows for 18NB should be curved since the road curves left while the 1NB ramp goes straight -- MUTCD Fig 2E-5 shows how to do this). Seems to have smoothed out some of the bottlenecks going NB. SB was just the same wall of traffic it has been for my entire life, and I'm not sure how much you can really fix that at this point, although eliminating the Naricon Pl/Tower Center Blvd traffic light would help, but it would mean severing the intersection.