New Jersey

[BrianP]

As has been stated many times on here, the cost of converting the ACE to I-76 would be considerable for not much more benefit than is being attained currently.

I can imagine that upgrading the ACE to interstate standards would also have significant environmental impact, considering it goes straight through the Pinelands. Regardless of cost, there may also be some protected land involved.

The relatively-recent widening of the Expressway Eastbound took a few extra years in planning due to additional environmental research, even though the majority of the widening occurred in the median of the roadway.

As for an 'interstate standard' Expressway, honestly there isn't much to do.  The most significant issues would be raising of the bridge overpasses.  Otherwise, lanes, signage, lighting, shoulders, protection, etc are pretty much standard.  The intercept lot, gas stations and former visitors center in the median have proper ingress/egress.  Any substandard issues should be approved without much issue, or at worst a timeline of when it could be completed.

There's more issues with NJ 42 than with the Expressway in terms of interstate quality.

There are some underpass bridges with insufficient shoulders on the ACE. (NJ 50,
NJ 54, rail crossing between NJ 73 & 54, Albertson Rd / Rail, NJ 73, and here, and the west end at NJ 42).  So I would consider that significant work needed that the SJTA is very unlikely to want to do. 

I think NJ 42 is closer to interstate standard than the ACE.  I am not aware of it having insufficient shoulders or clearance issues.

[jeffandnicole]

As has been stated many times on here, the cost of converting the ACE to I-76 would be considerable for not much more benefit than is being attained currently.

I can imagine that upgrading the ACE to interstate standards would also have significant environmental impact, considering it goes straight through the Pinelands. Regardless of cost, there may also be some protected land involved.

The relatively-recent widening of the Expressway Eastbound took a few extra years in planning due to additional environmental research, even though the majority of the widening occurred in the median of the roadway.

As for an 'interstate standard' Expressway, honestly there isn't much to do.  The most significant issues would be raising of the bridge overpasses.  Otherwise, lanes, signage, lighting, shoulders, protection, etc are pretty much standard.  The intercept lot, gas stations and former visitors center in the median have proper ingress/egress.  Any substandard issues should be approved without much issue, or at worst a timeline of when it could be completed.

There's more issues with NJ 42 than with the Expressway in terms of interstate quality.

There are some underpass bridges with insufficient shoulders on the ACE. (NJ 50,
NJ 54, rail crossing between NJ 73 & 54, Albertson Rd / Rail, NJ 73, and here, and the west end at NJ 42).  So I would consider that significant work needed that the SJTA is very unlikely to want to do. 

I think NJ 42 is closer to interstate standard than the ACE.  I am not aware of it having insufficient shoulders or clearance issues.

There's some ramp issues, such as very substandard turning radii and accel/decal lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/rhhLecbueFjLgc5z7

https://goo.gl/maps/Ui2azjNCvYeyfpjeA

Some of the older accel/decal lanes are just the width of the shoulder, so they're only 10' wide, including overpasses.

Some of the regular lanes are only 11' wide in places.

[ekt8750]

The Creek Rd interchange is a right-in/right-out on both sides. Big no no.

[BrianP]

The Creek Rd interchange is a right-in/right-out on both sides. Big no no.

I think that problem could get rectified by the missing moves project.
http://www.rdvsystems.com/portfolio/i295-missing-moves-nj/

The project goes to bid next month. 
https://www.nj.gov/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/documents/NOTICETOCONTRACTORS_DP19144.pdf

I'm guessing that this is not a design-build contract so the final design of the project is complete.  Wish I could see that.

[jeffandnicole]

The Creek Rd interchange is a right-in/right-out on both sides. Big no no.

I think that problem could get rectified by the missing moves project.
http://www.rdvsystems.com/portfolio/i295-missing-moves-nj/

The project goes to bid next month. 
https://www.nj.gov/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/documents/NOTICETOCONTRACTORS_DP19144.pdf

I'm guessing that this is not a design-build contract so the final design of the project is complete.  Wish I could see that.

What do you mean you wish you could see that? You posted the link to it.

Now, I think there were some changes...I don't think the roundabout is part of the final design. But otherwise it's pretty much as shown I believe.

[BrianP]

That's what I meant.  That probably isn't the final design since that video is four years old.  That's more like an intermediate design. The initial design or idea had the ramps more SW of where they propose them to be now.  I think it gives a good idea of what it will look like.  But they may have made changes due to local feedback.  So seeing the final design plans would be nice to see if anything has changed. 

[roadman65]

The Creek Rd interchange is a right-in/right-out on both sides. Big no no.

I-80 has Hainesville Road a RIRO in Knowlton Township.  The feds have not said anything yet.   That one was left over from when US 611 entered NJ for a brief moment which maybe why it was allowed out of grandfather clause rule.

[jeffandnicole]

The Creek Rd interchange is a right-in/right-out on both sides. Big no no.

I-80 has Hainesville Road a RIRO in Knowlton Township.  The feds have not said anything yet.   That one was left over from when US 611 entered NJ for a brief moment which maybe why it was allowed out of grandfather clause rule.

I-295's Exit 15, 16A & 16B are RIROs as well.  Several others from Exits 17 - 22 were eliminated.

[jeffandnicole]

That's what I meant.  That probably isn't the final design since that video is four years old.  That's more like an intermediate design. The initial design or idea had the ramps more SW of where they propose them to be now.  I think it gives a good idea of what it will look like.  But they may have made changes due to local feedback.  So seeing the final design plans would be nice to see if anything has changed. 

Looking back in my pics, on 6/13/18 there was a public meeting where I took pics.  If I knew how to load them on here I would!  But basically, the only thing I can see different is the roundabout is removed.  It appears the RIRO ramps along 42 South are basically the same; if anything, the radii may have been increased ever so slightly.

Since then, I recall seeing somewhere that they are still working with the developer on improving access to the shopping center (that may or may not ever happen).  Basically, they would close off the current access from Creek Road to/from 42 South, and extend Leaf Ave to meet further south on Creek Road (closer to where the Lawnmower Parts Store is located along Creek Rd).  I don't think I have any pictures of that, and I don't think that's going to be part of this current project.

If you keep an eye on the www.bidx.com website, while the main plans aren't available for public viewing, they will often post updated design plans viewable to the public.  However, these are construction plans, not overall designs of the area, so they're a bit hard to read and figure out on occasion!

[jeffandnicole]

That's what I meant.  That probably isn't the final design since that video is four years old.  That's more like an intermediate design. The initial design or idea had the ramps more SW of where they propose them to be now.  I think it gives a good idea of what it will look like.  But they may have made changes due to local feedback.  So seeing the final design plans would be nice to see if anything has changed. 

Figured it out...at least the best you'll find now.  www.bidx.com .  Go to New Jersey Department of Transportation.  Look up Proposal 19144 (find a link to it...any one will do).  Look at the Geotech Report and Boring Logs.  It's a big file, but downloaded fast for me.  If you look and zoom in on page 257, that will probably be the best look at the actual design.  Many pages before that contain interesting info, although you will probably need a good idea of the area to understand exactly where they're referring to. 

[storm2k]

someone in the /r/newjersey reddit posted this beautiful image of the western end of 80 in nj in the water gap from 1965. look at the font on that sign:

[KEVIN_224]

All of those advertisements on the hillside!

[Alps]

All of those advertisements on the hillside!

Exactly my thought! That's a National Recreation Area.

[ixnay]

All of those advertisements on the hillside!

Exactly my thought! That's a National Recreation Area.

It is now.  It wasn't then, not until after the Tocks Island Dam project was canceled in the '70s.  Google "Tocks Island".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Water_Gap_National_Recreation_Area

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocks_Island_Dam_controversy

ixnay

[ixnay]

someone in the /r/newjersey reddit posted this beautiful image of the western end of 80 in nj in the water gap from 1965. look at the font on that sign:

A funky font.  Too bad the sign right at the beginning of the deceleration lane is to distant to read.

ixnay

[CrystalWalrein]

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/12002165__-.pdf

So this is Middlesex CR 2165, one of the new county routes that made it into the Straight Line Diagrams. Apparently the roads in Merrill Park, a county-run park, are now county highways in their own right.

However, the aforementioned route is just a car park.

[NJRoadfan]

Seems that numbers were randomly assigned to most of those park roads. Middlesex County doesn't appear to keep an actual inventory of park roads with route numbers. Union County by contrast does, they are all 700 series routes. At the end of the day, using the SLDs as a primary data source for county route information shouldn't be trusted. There is still a ton of outdated and incorrect information found within them.

[roadman65]

Seems that numbers were randomly assigned to most of those park roads. Middlesex County doesn't appear to keep an actual inventory of park roads with route numbers. Union County by contrast does, they are all 700 series routes. At the end of the day, using the SLDs as a primary data source for county route information shouldn't be trusted. There is still a ton of outdated and incorrect information found within them.

WM. Tracey Drive in Mountainside is a 600 series number which is a park road in Union County.  Its the main N-S route in the Reservation linking New Providence Road with Glenside Ave. (CR 527).

[NJRoadfan]

WR Tracy Dr. (CR-645) and Summit Ln. (CR-642) are both part of longer thru routes that extend beyond the park.

[Alps]

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/12002165__-.pdf

So this is Middlesex CR 2165, one of the new county routes that made it into the Straight Line Diagrams. Apparently the roads in Merrill Park, a county-run park, are now county highways in their own right.

However, the aforementioned route is just a car park.

I see a host of 2100 routes on that SLD that I know are not 2100 routes.

[TheGrassGuy]

For all of you who are interested, here's a list of all county routes in Bergen County signed with pentagons:

CR 4 (W Oakland Ave) and I-287 NB exit/entrance ramp
CR 7 (Sheridan Ave) and E Prospect St
CR 12 (Market St) and CR 507 (River Rd)
CR 17 (River Rd) and Northumberland Rd
CR 17 (River Rd) and NJ-4 EB exit/entrance ramp
CR 29 (Linwood Ave) and US-9W
CR 48 (Fairview Ave) and US-1-9
CR 55 (Polifly Rd) and I-80 WB exit ramp
CR 62 (Paramus Rd) and Red Mill Rd
CR 65 (Terrace Ave) and NJ-17 SB entrance ramp
CR 65 (Westminster Pl) and US-46
CR 67 (Midland Ave) and NJ-4 (Broadway)
CR 75 (E Saddle River Rd) and E Glen Ave
CR 76 (Fair Lawn Ave) and NJ-208 EB exit ramp
CR 79 (Saddle River Rd) and Red Mill Rd
CR 82 (E Glen Ave) and E Saddle River Rd
CR 124 (Bergen Tpk) and US-46

[Alps]

For all of you who are interested, here's a list of all county routes in Bergen County signed with pentagons:

CR 4 (W Oakland Ave) and I-287 NB exit/entrance ramp
CR 7 (Sheridan Ave) and E Prospect St
CR 12 (Market St) and CR 507 (River Rd)
CR 17 (River Rd) and Northumberland Rd
CR 17 (River Rd) and NJ-4 EB exit/entrance ramp
CR 29 (Linwood Ave) and US-9W
CR 48 (Fairview Ave) and US-1-9
CR 55 (Polifly Rd) and I-80 WB exit ramp
CR 62 (Paramus Rd) and Red Mill Rd
CR 65 (Terrace Ave) and NJ-17 SB entrance ramp
CR 65 (Westminster Pl) and US-46
CR 67 (Midland Ave) and NJ-4 (Broadway)
CR 75 (E Saddle River Rd) and E Glen Ave
CR 76 (Fair Lawn Ave) and NJ-208 EB exit ramp
CR 79 (Saddle River Rd) and Red Mill Rd
CR 82 (E Glen Ave) and E Saddle River Rd
CR 124 (Bergen Tpk) and US-46

[Roadgeek Adam]

CR 5/69 signed as CR 5 by Passaic County on the Bergen/Passaic line in Glen Rock.

[ixnay]

I imagine you can count the number of white, (almost) square NJ county road shields still deployed on one's hands.  I vaguely remember them.

ixnay

[jeffandnicole]

I imagine you can count the number of white, (almost) square NJ county road shields still deployed on one's hands.  I vaguely remember them.

ixnay

Nah. I know Camden County has numerous white shields.  On some roads they may be combined with 5 sided shields, but they still have a lot of the older shields down there.