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Tonytone:

--- Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 22, 2023, 03:47:04 PM ---Ultimately, the Churchman's Marsh area of 95 South in Delaware can be a huge chokepoint.  North of 141, there's 3 lanes from 95, 3 lanes from 495, and 4 lanes from 295.  That's 10 lanes, that all need to somehow narrow down to 5 lanes on 95 south of 141. 

I-495 loses one where it exits onto 295 North, then the left lane ends after meeting up with 95, so we're down to 8 lanes merging into 5.  295 South loses 1 at the 13/40 exit, then another at the 141 exit, then another as it merges with 95, giving us the remaining 5 lanes.

Pulling up DelDOT's traffic count page again:  https://deldot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4f76a1fa5b5c493cb3e1fad44a50dad1 , if you zoom in on the 95/295/495 interchange area, the first thing that's notable is that the counts are for both directions, so roughly divide them in half for a single direction.  It shows I-95 AADT of 98k, and I-295 Traffic of 96k just before the merge.  Since these appear to be 2 way counts, cut them in half so 95 traffic is roughly 49k and 295 is 48k.  Since the counts are probably before the 141 interchange, some traffic will be exiting there before the 95/295 merge.  However, DelDOT has allocated 4 thru lanes to 95, and 1 thru lane to 295, after the 95/295 merge, even though traffic counts are fairly similar on both roadways at this point.  No wonder why congestion is significantly worse on 295 approaching 95.

Now, granted, these aren't exact figures because of omitted data including ramp data, I don't know the time period of when the counts occurred, and of course don't have the breakdown of weekday vs weekend, summer vs winter, etc.  But there's some fairly reasonable numbers here that show that DelDOT is screwing with traffic that is mainly coming from NJ. 

Very cynical me even wonders if Delaware is intentionally trying to create congestion on 295 in hopes that GPSs will register a quicker way by crossing a bridge into PA then go thru Delaware, using either 95 or 495, to "show off" more of Delaware to passing motorists in hopes that they'll stop and visit.


--- Quote from: Alex4897 on September 21, 2023, 08:48:21 AM ---There had been talk of a shoulder lane being built over the marsh the next time DelDOT repaved this segment of I-95, but the plans for it have disappeared off their website so I have no idea if they're still considering it. And even then I don't remember the proposed layout well enough, it may have just benefited I-95 further.

--- End quote ---

I had noticed discussion of this went quiet.  I could see Delaware State Police and fire companies wanting those shoulders available without traffic riding on them to get to incidents and to move crashes onto them and dissuaded DelDOT from using them as occasional travel lanes.

--- End quote ---

Does anyone know the reason why the 295 Ramp just wasn't built on the right? I can assume it was probably cost savings at that time, but that would have eliminated majority of the merging issues on that side, for the left at least.

Also I could see first responders having an issue with the shoulder if it was used 24/7, however it was going to be a temporary lane that would allow traffic during the busiest times, and close during off times.

And to add to that if traffic flow improved, there would be no delay in response times.



Alex4897:

--- Quote from: Tonytone on September 24, 2023, 04:10:05 PM ---Does anyone know the reason why the 295 Ramp just wasn't built on the right? I can assume it was probably cost savings at that time, but that would have eliminated majority of the merging issues on that side, for the left at least.

--- End quote ---

Given I-295 serves more regional traffic, I'd imagine forcing that regional traffic to conflict even more with local traffic on the right side of I-95 coming from DE 141 and going to DE 1, 273, etc. would make for a bigger mess. I don't know if this was the line of thinking back in the '60s when this was built, or if it was just a matter of simplifying the already convoluted interchange.

tmoore952:

--- Quote from: Alex4897 on September 25, 2023, 10:02:23 AM ---
--- Quote from: Tonytone on September 24, 2023, 04:10:05 PM ---Does anyone know the reason why the 295 Ramp just wasn't built on the right? I can assume it was probably cost savings at that time, but that would have eliminated majority of the merging issues on that side, for the left at least.

--- End quote ---

Given I-295 serves more regional traffic, I'd imagine forcing that regional traffic to conflict even more with local traffic on the right side of I-95 coming from DE 141 and going to DE 1, 273, etc. would make for a bigger mess. I don't know if this was the line of thinking back in the '60s when this was built, or if it was just a matter of simplifying the already convoluted interchange.

--- End quote ---

DE 1 intersecting with I-95 did not exist in the '60s. that came much later.
At that time, that interchange was just a "regular one" for DE 7.
Christiana Mall at that interchange did not come along until 1978.

The future mushrooming of that DE 1/DE 7 interchange was not known. Southbound traffic back then would get off at US 13/US 40 interchange further east (which at times was also southbound US 301). The growth in traffic in general was not adequately anticipated in the '60s (but that could probably be said for many places).

jeffandnicole:

--- Quote from: Alex4897 on September 25, 2023, 10:02:23 AM ---
--- Quote from: Tonytone on September 24, 2023, 04:10:05 PM ---Does anyone know the reason why the 295 Ramp just wasn't built on the right? I can assume it was probably cost savings at that time, but that would have eliminated majority of the merging issues on that side, for the left at least.

--- End quote ---

Given I-295 serves more regional traffic, I'd imagine forcing that regional traffic to conflict even more with local traffic on the right side of I-95 coming from DE 141 and going to DE 1, 273, etc. would make for a bigger mess. I don't know if this was the line of thinking back in the '60s when this was built, or if it was just a matter of simplifying the already convoluted interchange.

--- End quote ---

Especially in the Northeast, left-sided ramps were relatively more common when the interstate highway system was built.  This interchange also has DE 141 going thru it further compounding the 'normal' preference of all ramps going to the right. 

There's actually a significant number of left-sided ramps, either exits or entrances at the full interchange, including DE 141:

On-ramps:
I-295 South into I-95 South
I-295 South into I-95 North
I-495 South into I-95 South
I-95/495 South into I-295 North
DE 141 South to I-95 North
DE 141 North to I-95 North

Off-ramps:
I-95 South to I-295 North
I-495 South to I-295 North
I-295 South to DE 141 North
DE 141 South to I-95 North
DE 141 North to I-95 North (the infamous left-sided reverse cloverleaf ramp)

As TMoore mentioned, further down, DE 1 near 95, nor the Christiana Mall, didn't exist when the system was built, and it's doubtful there was any consideration in the amount of traffic that area was going to receive years later and the weaving that would become necessary.  Further north, I-95 wasn't built yet in many areas, and still had I-95 planned on its original routing from Exit 10 of the NJ Turnpike thru central Jersey.

BTW, if you look up this interchange area on www.historicaerials.com , you'll see how the Christiana River was significantly rerouted in the area when the interchange was built.

Alex4897:

--- Quote from: tmoore952 on September 25, 2023, 12:57:13 PM ---
--- Quote from: Alex4897 on September 25, 2023, 10:02:23 AM ---
--- Quote from: Tonytone on September 24, 2023, 04:10:05 PM ---Does anyone know the reason why the 295 Ramp just wasn't built on the right? I can assume it was probably cost savings at that time, but that would have eliminated majority of the merging issues on that side, for the left at least.

--- End quote ---

Given I-295 serves more regional traffic, I'd imagine forcing that regional traffic to conflict even more with local traffic on the right side of I-95 coming from DE 141 and going to DE 1, 273, etc. would make for a bigger mess. I don't know if this was the line of thinking back in the '60s when this was built, or if it was just a matter of simplifying the already convoluted interchange.

--- End quote ---

DE 1 intersecting with I-95 did not exist in the '60s. that came much later.
At that time, that interchange was just a "regular one" for DE 7.
Christiana Mall at that interchange did not come along until 1978.

The future mushrooming of that DE 1/DE 7 interchange was not known. Southbound traffic back then would get off at US 13/US 40 interchange further east (which at times was also southbound US 301). The growth in traffic in general was not adequately anticipated in the '60s (but that could probably be said for many places).

--- End quote ---

Oh duh, yeah that's a good point.


--- Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 25, 2023, 01:02:44 PM ---BTW, if you look up this interchange area on www.historicaerials.com , you'll see how the Christiana River was significantly rerouted in the area when the interchange was built.

--- End quote ---

And how there used to be an I-495 SB to I-95 NB ramp included in the interchange's original design that seemed to only last <10 years in service before being replaced by the I-495 to DE 141 ramp. I often wonder what the thinking was in including this originally, perhaps there were concerns the Port of Wilmington would need the access?

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