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NJ - 295/76/42 Construction Projects

Started by jeffandnicole, January 23, 2013, 09:21:46 AM

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jeffandnicole

Quote from: PHLBOS on March 06, 2014, 02:12:06 PM
BTW, here's the pre-construction signage for that area.

Aerial view of the area.

As one can see, this stretch of highway is clearly between the I-295 branch-offs and could be argued whether it's a part of NJ 42 or not.  Looking at the pre-construction interchange geometry, 42's northern terminus appears to be located just south of the Browning Road overpass at the south 295 branch-off (the missing Exit 1A in this direction is likely being reserved for the future direct-ramp to I-295 South). 

Ignore what Google is showing as 42 and 76.  Rather, look at the placement of the mileposts, as well as other information directly from NJDOT (including their straight line diagrams).  I-76 doesn't go thru the interchange.  It begins/ends at about the Browning Rd overpass (which crosses on an angle thru the interchange).  Actually, I believe the 0.0 Post on 76 West is just about where 295 North formerly split from 76/42.


PHLBOS

Quote from: danlb_2000 on March 06, 2014, 02:29:19 PM
Just as an FYI, here is the signage that was at the location of my picture before the construction...

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.866776,-75.101029,3a,75y,345.19h,88.56t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBaibrJj4e0bPpKFdGBMrdA!2e0?hl=en
So there's now two "ramps" for I-295 North along the same direction: the existing one further down (the new APL BGS shows no exit tab for I-295 North, see posted photo several posts back) and this one that appears to be further south along the N-S Freeway.  Am I correct in that assumption?

Either way (and I don't give a hoot in Hades what Delaware Valley traffic reporters call that I-76 stretch of the N-S Freeway); I still think that the 42 NORTH TO 76 676 130 Camden Philadelphia BGS, while being technically correct for its location, is not appropriate given the fact that 42's northern terminus is less than a mile away.  The legends on the previous BGS' (from your link) were more appropriate IMHO.  One could make a whole separate topic thread for scenarios like this.

To Jeffandnicole,

Given the 42/76 handoff location at Browning Road and that fact that 42 now has its own exit numbers (it didn't always); shouldn't this new I-295 North ramp along 42 North be marked as Exit 14B?  14A would be a future ramp to I-295 South.

As far as the I-76 numbering in NJ; one likely reasoning for not following the traditional eastbound exit number order may have been due to the I-76/676 switch-over that took place circa 1973.  When I-676 through Camden was I-76; the various Exits 1x's along present-day I-76 never changed and Exit 2 was likely the ramp for the Walt Whitman Bridge (then I-676).  The exit numbers along that Camden stretch of the N-S Freeway (current 1 through 5) may have had higher numbers (3 through 7 perhaps?).

For all I know, and somebody who lived in the area at the time could chime in/confrim, NJDOT may have signed I-76 as a North-South route back then. 

When the 76/676 'swap' took place, mainly due to the prolonged delay of the eastern-half of the Vine Expressway in Philly being built (such was finally opend but downsized from its original design in 1991), NJDOT likely reset the exit numbers along the Camden stretch to their current I-676 numbers but left the ones southeast of the I-76/676 split (Exit 2) alone.  The reasoning for such (again, guess on my part) were due to the road's short distance (less than 2 miles) and/or the fact that the road's geometry was more North-South even though I-76 is an East-West route.  Such might be the reason why reporters refer to I-76 in NJ as Route 42.  Before much of N-S Freeway corridor became eligible for Interstate funding when first proposed (several 3di choices were initially pondered); it may have been originally envisioned as all-NJ 42.

As others have stated, one solution to eliminate the current route number/interchange number short-distance changes would be to extend I-76 east along NJ 42 and the ACE to Atlantic City; but there presently doesn't seem be a will to do such on either the state and/or federal levels.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

danlb_2000

Quote from: PHLBOS on March 07, 2014, 09:52:03 AM
Quote from: danlb_2000 on March 06, 2014, 02:29:19 PM
Just as an FYI, here is the signage that was at the location of my picture before the construction...

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.866776,-75.101029,3a,75y,345.19h,88.56t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBaibrJj4e0bPpKFdGBMrdA!2e0?hl=en
So there's now two "ramps" for I-295 North along the same direction: the existing one further down (the new APL BGS shows no exit tab for I-295 North, see posted photo several posts back) and this one that appears to be further south along the N-S Freeway.  Am I correct in that assumption?

No, there is only one exit from 42/76 North to 295 North. The only exit is the new interim ramp.

PHLBOS

Quote from: danlb_2000 on March 07, 2014, 11:12:01 AMNo, there is only one exit from 42/76 North to 295 North. The only exit is the new interim ramp.
Fair enough.  I finally had a chance to look through previous posts (& pics) in this thread to put all the pieces together.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

jeffandnicole

QuoteI still think that the 42 NORTH TO 76 676 130 Camden Philadelphia BGS, while being technically correct for its location, is not appropriate given the fact that 42's northern terminus is less than a mile away.

There's another example...1 mile away, and it's been there for over 15 years: http://goo.gl/maps/oe76T

Sure, it's less noticable because of the reduced information contained on the sign, but the fact remains I-76 ends less than 1/2 mile away from this sign.

QuoteGiven the 42/76 handoff location at Browning Road and that fact that 42 now has its own exit numbers (it didn't always); shouldn't this new I-295 North ramp along 42 North be marked as Exit 14B?  14A would be a future ramp to I-295 South.

Nah.  First off...don't forget Creek Road is already signed as Exit 14, so that interchange would need to change to 14A, then this exit would be 14B...or even 14C, because the future 42 North to 295 South ramp would need to be 14A or 14B. Normal NJ numbering habits preclude assigning a single interchange number to two drastically different exit locations.  As an example, I-295's Exit 56 is located at MP 56.1.  Exit 57 is located at MP 56.8.  Since they were 2 separate interchanges, they were assigned distinctly different numbers.

And everyone is forgetting the general rule - the exit number is assigned based on the point of intersection of the two roads.  295 has always been an oddity, because the 295 NB lanes intersected the highway about 3/4 of a mile away from the SB lanes.  To add to that, both 295 North & South overlapped 76/42, until jersey barrier walls separated the 2 highways, so there was 2 meeting points.  While there are scores of examples of 2 or more roads joining for a period of time, very few do so for such a short distance, and an extreme rarity that 1 of the roads changes designations at the same time. 

The decision was made early on to assign the interchange as I-76 Interchange 1.  The fact that the takeoff point for the 295 North ramp is located on Route 42 territory shouldn't make a different as to the exit number of the interchange, because of where it currently (and futurely) crosses 76/42.

Quote
As far as the I-76 numbering in NJ; one likely reasoning for not following the traditional eastbound exit number order may have been due to the I-76/676 switch-over that took place circa 1973.  When I-676 through Camden was I-76; the various Exits 1x's along present-day I-76 never changed and Exit 2 was likely the ramp for the Walt Whitman Bridge (then I-676).  The exit numbers along that Camden stretch of the N-S Freeway (current 1 through 5) may have had higher numbers (3 through 7 perhaps?).

For all I know, and somebody who lived in the area at the time could chime in/confrim, NJDOT may have signed I-76 as a North-South route back then. 

When the 76/676 'swap' took place, mainly due to the prolonged delay of the eastern-half of the Vine Expressway in Philly being built (such was finally opend but downsized from its original design in 1991), NJDOT likely reset the exit numbers along the Camden stretch to their current I-676 numbers but left the ones southeast of the I-76/676 split (Exit 2) alone.  The reasoning for such (again, guess on my part) were due to the road's short distance (less than 2 miles) and/or the fact that the road's geometry was more North-South even though I-76 is an East-West route.  Such might be the reason why reporters refer to I-76 in NJ as Route 42.  Before much of N-S Freeway corridor became eligible for Interstate funding when first proposed (several 3di choices were initially pondered); it may have been originally envisioned as all-NJ 42.


Originally, the two Interstate highways were signed I-80S (as present day I-80 was I-80N) & I-680, before becoming 76 & 676.  But if signed properly, at least based on today's standards, 76 and 80S's MP 0 would be either at the Ben Franklin Bridge or Walt Whitman Bridge.  It should never have been MP 0 where it crosses 295.  Thus, the 76/676 switch should have impacted the interchange number, but it did not.

I-76 and Route 42 follow an alignment originally reserved for some sort of parkway route originally thought up in the 1930's.  The Interstate portion of the highway was completed first in 1957; Route 42 started opening up a year or so after that.  The Atlantic City Expressway was more of an afterthought; talk and planning of that highway occurred from 1958 - 1962 (And that had nothing to do with the casinos, which weren't considered until the 1970's).

PHLBOS

Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 07, 2014, 12:36:58 PMOriginally, the two Interstate highways were signed I-80S (as present day I-80 was I-80N) & I-680, before becoming 76 & 676.
My earlier point that there were several I-numbers being thrown around (395 & 380 being two of them) before agreeing to I-80S & 680.  See the historical info. on I-76, 676 & NJ 42 from Steve Anderson's PhillyRoads site (the I-76 & 676 pages list the timeline for the various I-numbers be it only on paper and/or in the field):

I-76

I-676

NJ 42

Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 07, 2014, 12:36:58 PM
But if signed properly, at least based on today's standards, 76 and 80S's MP 0 would be either at the Ben Franklin Bridge or Walt Whitman Bridge.  It should never have been MP 0 where it crosses 295.
I agree w/you 100% on this one; it was NJDOT that thought otherwise. 

Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 07, 2014, 12:36:58 PM
Thus, the 76/676 switch should have impacted the interchange number, but it did not.
As I stated earlier, the presummed interchange numbers pre-76/676 swap started at 1 at I-295 and ran northward towards the Ben Franklin Bridge and it's possible that NJDOT treated I-76 (originally I-80S) as a North-South route as opposed to an East-West route.  A few old pics. in this area would confirm/refute and/or tell the story w/less words.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 07, 2014, 12:36:58 PM
The Atlantic City Expressway was more of an afterthought; talk and planning of that highway occurred from 1958 - 1962 (And that had nothing to do with the casinos, which weren't considered until the 1970's).
Again, no argument from me on that one.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

akotchi

NJDOT's Straight Line Diagram considers I-76 to be a north-south roadway, despite the signing in the field.

The numbering of the I-295 interchange as 1 from Route 42 north is not unprecedented for New Jersey.  Where I-95 transitions to I-295, the exit number of the U.S. 1 interchange carries the I-295 interchange number (67) from both sides.  I could say the same thing for the transitions to state highways on I-195 on either end, but neither state roadway has exit numbers.  At I-295, there is also the Exit 60 designation from all four directions.
Opinions here attributed to me are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer or the agencies for which I am contracted to do work.

mrsman

Quote from: roadman65 on March 06, 2014, 01:29:30 PM
MD used to have them on I-95 for both the JFK Highway and Harbor Tunnel Thruway.  True the HTT was not I-95, but it was defacto I-95 which gave it the illusion.  Plus the old Harbor Tunnel Thruway had two sequences for both NB and SB having two sets o numbers as well.  NB was 1 to 5 and SB was 11 to 18.  Hence north of the tunnel all exits were all NB off and SB on  and south of the tunnel its was SB off and NB on, but still created confusion somewhat.  Then the JFK highway started its own sequence with Exit 2 for I-695 to Exit 9 for MD 279 at Elkton. 

Following in a linear line would experience three sets of numbers.

I-76-NJ 42-ACE should have one set of exit numbers, since it's one road and the terminus of NJ 42 is at the terminus of the ACE.  And the terminus of I-76 is at the terminus of NJ 42.

Incidentally, it's nearly* impossible to have mileage based exit numbers on routes that diverge and converge, because the mileages will almost all be different.

For the two I-35 E & W divergences (DFW, Twin Cities), only I-35E keeps I-35's exit numbers.  I-35W has exit numbers signed as though it was a separate highway.

So in Maryland, it's just not feasible to have I-895 match I-95's exit numbers, unless we were to take I-895 off the mileage based system.


* One exception might be the NJTP, should the NJTP get a mileage based system.  The Eastern Spur and the Western Spur have so few exits that likely if the mileage system would follow the longer one, you wouldn't notice the lack of sequence.  Although, there would be problems linking the main NJTP with I-95's exit numbers.

The exit numbers along I-95 between Teaneck, NJ and Fort Lee, NJ actuall follow the exit numbers based on the never-built Somerset Expy, but very neatly match I-80's exit numbers.

vdeane

Quote from: mrsman on March 17, 2014, 09:44:02 AM
the terminus of NJ 42 is at the terminus of the ACE.
Nope.

Though the overall orientation of the combined route is east-west.  If it were renumbered east-west, the fact that NJ 42 actually branches off wouldn't matter.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

PHLBOS

Quote from: vdeane on March 17, 2014, 01:36:08 PM
Quote from: mrsman on March 17, 2014, 09:44:02 AM
the terminus of NJ 42 is at the terminus of the ACE.
Nope.

Though the overall orientation of the combined route is east-west.  If it were renumbered east-west, the fact that NJ 42 actually branches off wouldn't matter.
To add...

NJ Route 42 per Wiki
GPS does NOT equal GOD

danlb_2000

Just posted a new photo update on my blog. Now that Winter is over (finally!) the pace of work appears to be picking up again. Things should really get interesting in a few months when Phase 2 starts while Phase 1 continues.

http://i295directconnection.blogspot.com/

bzakharin

Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 02, 2014, 02:25:52 PM

That is extremely misleading since the entering lane ends. There is a sign (or is it a VMS) on I-295 (but preceding this sign) that says something like "I-295 right lane ends ahead". This sign is visible from the entering lane, but it is not obvious that it refers to the lane in question because it's not I-295's right lane yet (plus some motorists would be excused for not reading signs on roadways other than the ones they're on, even if they're visible).

jeffandnicole

Quote from: bzakharin on April 29, 2014, 12:29:38 PM
That is extremely misleading since the entering lane ends. There is a sign (or is it a VMS) on I-295 (but preceding this sign) that says something like "I-295 right lane ends ahead". This sign is visible from the entering lane, but it is not obvious that it refers to the lane in question because it's not I-295's right lane yet (plus some motorists would be excused for not reading signs on roadways other than the ones they're on, even if they're visible).

I think the intent is to keep entering traffic within that lane, rather than suggesting they need to merge over immediately with a traditional merge sign.  The new lane is about 1/2 mile long thru the construction zone, ending after traffic sharply curves to the right.  This allows 3 lanes thru the curve.  A lane increase in a constuction zone is a rarity.  It's worked out fairly well.

The VMS sign says:

295 NB
RT LN ENDS
1/2 MILE

Considering the ramp and the sign location, it's probably missed by many, and conveys too much abbrevated info anyway.  Numerous signs starting at the 2000 Foot Ahead mark mention the lane ending anyway, so it's not a huge miss.


jeffandnicole

New Traffic Pattern on I-76:  http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2014/042814ab.shtm

The press release shows the new traffic patterns commencing overnight, but with rains in the area it was pushed back (never fails...dry weather for most of the past several weeks, and now we're in a 3 day period possibly producing up to 5" of rain).  Ironically, this portion of the project is to address flooding issues on I-76.  I believe I read the roadway will be *lowered* to reduce flooding, so not entirely sure how that will work.  In a way, this roadwork has nothing to do with the actual 295 Direct Connection, but good planning got it thrown into the overall project.

Highlights: I-76 West will feature 2 contra-flow lanes on the EB roadway.  2 or 3 lanes will remain on the EB roadway.

Lowlights:  I-76 East will lose a thru lane.  I-676 South traffic will suffer the most: They go from 3 lanes to 2 just prior to the merge with I-76 already, and then the new right lane becomes an Exit Only lane for US 130 South.

NJ-Surveyor

We have 120 days to reconstruct I-76 all the way across from heading to Phila to the opposite side of the highway. I was told that the first phase should be 24 days. They are adding a lot of drainage and removing the concrete base under the old asphalt. The contractors are planning on 24 hour shifts six days a week and Sundays as a backup. The ramp to RT 130 is slated to be closed this weekend from Friday night until Monday morning. The next weekend Market St is planned to be closed for the same amount of time. The traffic switch is supposed to happen tonight.

jeffandnicole

Wow!  By the sounds of it, it appears they are trying to push this thru mostly during the summer months, when traffic volumes are lower (shore traffic notwithstanding).

(PS: I've been very complimentary towards the construction signage. However, the revised 130 South Exit Only sign on 76 East looks horrible!)

Zeffy

Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 07, 2014, 09:26:30 AM
(PS: I've been very complimentary towards the construction signage. However, the revised 130 South Exit Only sign on 76 East looks horrible!)

Pics if you're in the area would be great.  :)
Life would be boring if we didn't take an offramp every once in a while

A weird combination of a weather geek, roadgeek, car enthusiast and furry mixed with many anxiety related disorders

BrianP

Quote from: NJ-Surveyor on May 06, 2014, 07:57:27 PM
We have 120 days to reconstruct I-76 all the way across from heading to Phila to the opposite side of the highway. I was told that the first phase should be 24 days. They are adding a lot of drainage and removing the concrete base under the old asphalt. The contractors are planning on 24 hour shifts six days a week and Sundays as a backup. The ramp to RT 130 is slated to be closed this weekend from Friday night until Monday morning. The next weekend Market St is planned to be closed for the same amount of time. The traffic switch is supposed to happen tonight.
Thanks for the heads-up.  Here's the press release:
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2014/050614.shtm

jeffandnicole

Quote from: Zeffy on May 07, 2014, 11:54:50 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 07, 2014, 09:26:30 AM
(PS: I've been very complimentary towards the construction signage. However, the revised 130 South Exit Only sign on 76 East looks horrible!)

Pics if you're in the area would be great.  :)

Finally got it today.

I mostly dislike the lettering, where the small letters are way smaller, and the l's, k's, d's, etc don't rise to the height of the larger Capital letter.

Kudos though for exactly matching the width of the Exit 1C sign below (I won't take off points for the different shade of green, which looks worse in the pic than it does driving by it).

Temporary I-76 WB Signage at Exit 1D:



Green-over / Yellow-over at I-76 EB, Exit 1C:




Zeffy

Oh god, you weren't lying. Those are butt ugly!  :ded:  Who told the contractors the initial letter of everything is larger than the rest?  :pan:
Life would be boring if we didn't take an offramp every once in a while

A weird combination of a weather geek, roadgeek, car enthusiast and furry mixed with many anxiety related disorders

J Route Z

Thank god this signage is only temporally for the next, 5 years lol.  :meh:

danlb_2000

#246
Looks like contract 2 is getting ready to start. Two shipping containers with a Conti Enterprises sign on them have appeared along 295 at the Blackhorse Pike exit.



Since I took this picture a couple more trucks have joined the containers.

danlb_2000

New photo update:

http://i295directconnection.blogspot.com/2014/06/photo-update-may-2014.html

I am starting to see Conti trucks in a couple locations around the project, mostly starting to do land clearing.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: danlb_2000 on June 05, 2014, 08:27:35 PM
New photo update:

http://i295directconnection.blogspot.com/2014/06/photo-update-may-2014.html

I am starting to see Conti trucks in a couple locations around the project, mostly starting to do land clearing.

Nice pics, btw.

I'm a bit surprised at how slow they are moving on the 2nd half of the Bell Rd Overpass.  I'm sure there's some utilities they have to work around that's under the overpass, but I would've thought they would move on that a bit faster being the bridge has to alternate traffic on the one available lane.

Otherwise, there seems to be something going on most days there, somewhere in that construction zone.  The overpass over Essex Ave in the median of 295 appears to be complete, and they are adding asphalt near it as SB traffic will need to use that overpass in order to replace the current 295 South overpass. 

The 2nd of 4+ phases of lane shifts in being used on 76, which I believe is the 3 cattleshute phase, consisting of 2 contra-flow lanes on I-76 East, 1 single lane on the far left I-76 West shoulder, and 2 or 3 far right lanes which also access the US 130 exits.

danlb_2000

Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 10, 2014, 08:34:01 AM

Nice pics, btw.

I'm a bit surprised at how slow they are moving on the 2nd half of the Bell Rd Overpass.  I'm sure there's some utilities they have to work around that's under the overpass, but I would've thought they would move on that a bit faster being the bridge has to alternate traffic on the one available lane.

Otherwise, there seems to be something going on most days there, somewhere in that construction zone.  The overpass over Essex Ave in the median of 295 appears to be complete, and they are adding asphalt near it as SB traffic will need to use that overpass in order to replace the current 295 South overpass. 

The 2nd of 4+ phases of lane shifts in being used on 76, which I believe is the 3 cattleshute phase, consisting of 2 contra-flow lanes on I-76 East, 1 single lane on the far left I-76 West shoulder, and 2 or 3 far right lanes which also access the US 130 exits.

Thanks! I was surprised about Bell road also, but I drove through there two weeks ago, then again a week later and both times there were utility crews working underground on both sides of the bridge, so it looks like the utility work is taking a while.



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